Are Dental Implants Really Necessary?

If you’re dealing with missing teeth, your Leavenworth dentist might have suggested dental implants. But looking closer at the procedure and finding out about the costs and expected healing timeline, you now wonder if implants are truly necessary.

Well, the short answer is that no, dental implants aren’t always necessary. But they do present some unique benefits when compared to other tooth-replacement options. 

Keep reading this short article to learn more about implants and whether you might benefit from them.

What Are the Advantages of Dental Implants?

Dental implants completely replace a missing tooth. Unlike other solutions like bridges, which only restore the tooth’s crown, implants will also replace the root.

This key difference leads to some unique advantages:

• Full function: Dental implants will restore the full function of your smile. You’ll be able to speak and eat normally and maintain your implant through regular brushing and flossing.‍
• Natural look: They look like they’re growing from your gums, just like a natural tooth;‍
• Permanent replacement: While the crown fixed on top may need replacing after 10–15 years, the metal post that replaces the tooth root rarely gets damaged. Implants are lifelong tooth replacements.‍
• Bone support: The metal post stimulates the jawbone whenever you apply pressure to the implant while eating. This prevents shrinkage and helps keep the jaw bone healthy. Patients with tooth loss often deal with jaw bone loss and even changes in their physical appearance. Dental implants prevent these side effects.

Why Would I Need a Dental Implant?

You may need dental implants if you have missing adult teeth or have one or more teeth so damaged that they need to be extracted. 

Patients can receive different levels of restoration based on the type of implants they need.

• Single implants
• All-on-4
• Implant-supported dentures, etc.

When Are Dental Implants Truly Necessary?

Implants may be necessary if you don’t want a removable tooth replacement prosthetic, such as dentures. Implant-supported dentures may provide more comfort and a more natural look when compared to traditional dentures. 

They could also be necessary if you’re not a good candidate for other teeth replacement procedures, such as a bridge. This prosthetic is used to replace 1–2 missing teeth by using two anchor teeth. 

On the sides, the bridge works like a dental crown and would require resizing the natural teeth so the prosthetic can fit. If your two anchor teeth are perfectly healthy, bridges aren’t usually recommended.