Is Dental Implant Surgery A Cosmetic Procedure?

Dental implants are a popular solution for patients to restore their smiles and replace missing teeth. 

But you might be wondering if implant surgery is a cosmetic procedure and, if it is, how it may affect you.

Keep reading this post to understand what type of procedure dental implant surgery is and what its benefits are.

How Do Dental Implants Work?

Dental implants are artificial teeth designed to mimic both the look and function of a natural tooth.

They are made from three elements:

  • Titanium post
  • Abutment
  • Dental crown

The titanium post is inserted into the jaw during the implant surgery and becomes the artificial tooth root. After a 6-month healing period where all the surrounding tissues bond with the post, your surgeon will add the abutment and dental crown, and the restoration is complete.

What Is Cosmetic Dentistry?

Cosmetic dentistry refers to all the procedures designed to improve how a patient’s smile looks. Though some of them can help improve oral health or address health concerns, the primary focus of cosmetic dentistry is improving aesthetics. 

Through cosmetic dentistry, you can address:

  • Gaps between teeth
  • Severe staining or discoloration
  • Irregularly sized or misshapen teeth
  • Minor chips or cracks
  • Certain alignment issues, etc.

What Type of Procedure Is Implant Placement Surgery?

Dental implants are a critical part of restorative dentistry. While the implants may have cosmetic functions as well (the crowns are custom-made to suit the rest of your teeth), their primary goal is to restore your oral health.

Why Does This Nuance Even Matter?

Well, it means dental implants are not an appropriate solution unless your teeth are badly damaged and cannot be treated through other procedures or if you are dealing with missing teeth.

If you have a perfectly healthy tooth that simply has cosmetic concerns, you’ll need other types of procedures to restore its look, such as veneers or dental bonding.

Moreover, since implants directly tie into your oral health, you may be able to cover part of the surgery cost through dental insurance. Such policies rarely cover the cost of cosmetic procedures, which are often viewed as elective.

What Are the Benefits of Dental Implants? 

Dental implants have many advantages:

  • Low failure rate since patients are screened before being cleared for surgery
  • Provide natural-looking restorations
  • Can last a lifetime
  • They need simple maintenance involving good oral hygiene
  • Can support bone health
  • Prevent the other teeth from moving and changing your alignment, bite, etc.

Get a Healthy and Stunning Smile at The Smile Centré

Dr. Jen Kirwan knows patients equally deserve healthy teeth and beautiful smiles, and she achieves this through several types of quality dental services.

Whether you’re interested in implants or cosmetic procedures, schedule a consultation at The Smile Centré online and take the first step toward the smile of your dreams.

For more information, call us at (913) 651-9800 today.

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