It’s no secret that dental implants have become the standard of care for tooth replacement, as they provide health benefits that other options simply don’t. As the longest-lasting tooth restoration treatment on the market, dental implants allow patients with missing teeth to regain their health, confidence, and high quality of life.
Dental implants are extremely durable, meaning that their long-term benefit never deteriorates. Compared to other tooth replacement treatments, dental implants offer the most value for your time and financial investment.
Dental Implants vs. Dentures
For centuries, people in nearly every culture have been replacing missing teeth with some form of denture. While dentures offer benefits that help combat the effects of tooth loss, there are things that you should consider before committing to a set of your own.
The Downfalls of Dentures
While your dentures will need to be replaced every 3-10 years, your dental implants can be lifelong. As dentures are not biologically integrated with your jawbone and gums, over time the supporting tissue can begin to deteriorate. This causes your jaw alignment and bite to shift, which means that your dentures will need to be replaced once they no longer fit.
Dentures can even accelerate bone loss, wearing away the ridges of bone that they’re placed on. Every time you bite down, your dentures apply extra pressure on the bone and slowly grind the structure away.
Prolonged denture wear can also lead to an array of health and esthetic consequences. With a deteriorated jawbone, your ability to chew and speak diminishes as teeth shift. , Denture patients often experience facial sagging where the lower half of the face sinks, making patient look much older than they are.
Therefore, while dentures are initially cheaper than dental implants, the cost of the subsequent dental and cosmetic treatments will add up and create headaches and financial burdens in years to come.
Dental Implants vs. Bridges
Comprised of 3 prosthetic crowns, dental bridges are commonly used to replace a single missing tooth. The outer two crowns serve as anchors and fit over the two natural teeth surrounding the gap, holding the middle restoration in place. While dental bridges can help patients missing teeth regain the ability to chew, but they come at a few questionable costs of their own.
Bridges – Helpful or Harmful in the Long Term?
Most dentists agree that as soon as your teeth are touched by a dental drill, their overall integrity begins an irreversible decline. In order for bridges to fit, the teeth surrounding your gap must be filed down, leaving them weaker and smaller.
This means that they’re susceptible to tooth decay, and if you eventually decide to opt for the more permanent dental implants, you will need to purchase crowns or implants for these teeth as well. Plus, like dentures, bridges need to be replaced every 5-10 years, a financial and health burden that will keep perpetuating over and over again.
The Verdict? Dental Implants are Cost-Effective
It’s true, a dental implant costs more than other treatments initially, but the time and money saved in the long term makes this investment worthwhile. When properly cared for, dental implants can last a lifetime and will preserve healthy bone, eliminating the prospect of future health problems.
Dental implants are impervious to tooth decay and need only be cared for like your natural teeth, meaning you won’t have to purchase denture cleaner or special products to keep them healthy. Regular brushing and flossing is all you need to ensure that they last a long time and remain strong.
Keep your mouth healthy and wallet full with affordable dental implants. Learn more about how dental implants can help you revitalize your smile and restore your health from Perio NYC.
