The most common topic of discussion about dental implants is their appearance, and the cosmetic enhancements that they provide are very real and very significant. However, the physical advantages of implant treatment extend beyond the appearance of your teeth; they also include improved health and function that benefit your everyday life, which other tooth replacement methods can't provide. That is why dental clinics like Erskine Dental Care treat implants as an investment in your health and your appearance.
Once a tooth is gone, the jawbone that used to surround the tooth's root starts to resorb, or gradually shrink, due to a lack of the stimulation needed to keep the bone dense. This resorption over time alters the shape of the jaw, impacts the stability of neighbouring teeth, and is increasingly noticeable on the face. A dental implant is a titanium fixture that is placed in the jaw to replace the tooth root and stimulate the bone, preventing this process from occurring. No other type of tooth replacement, not a bridge, not a denture, can do this. The implant is the only restoration that will preserve the structural integrity of the jaw over time.
Patients don't always realise that tooth loss can also affect their diet, as they may not be able to chew food very well. The loss of teeth can also have a practical impact on diet, as patients will not be able to chew food very well, which they may not realise until they experience the restoration. Foods that require a lot of bite force, such as raw vegetables, firm fruits, and dense proteins, are hard or impossible to eat with poor dentition or a loose denture. A fully integrated implant restores bite function to a level similar to that of a natural tooth, eliminates the dietary restrictions that tooth loss creates, and provides the nutritional diversity that a healthy diet demands.
The gap in the dentition creates conditions that impact the teeth on either side. Over time, the neighbouring teeth can move toward the gap, changing their position and impacting the bite without the support of the missing tooth. The traditional bridge fills the space between the teeth. Still, it requires preparing the adjacent teeth (grinding them down to fit the bridge crowns), which destroys otherwise healthy tooth structure. An implant fills the gap without pressure on the adjacent teeth and prevents them from drifting.
Standard removable dentures fit over the gums and are held in place by suction, adhesive, or clasps on the remaining teeth. They move while eating and speaking, must be removed for cleaning, and do not stop the bone loss that is occurring under them. Bone loss can occur with removable dentures, whereas implant-supported restorations (whether a single crown, a bridge, or a full-arch restoration) are fixed and non-movable. The confidence, comfort, and functional performance of a well-made implant restoration differ from those of a conventional denture, and patients who have had both report this.
The lifespan of a well-placed, well-maintained dental implant is measured in decades, and many implants last for 20 years or more; the treatment offers long-term value that isn't necessarily reflected in its initial cost. A bridge must be replaced every 10 to 15 years, and if it breaks, it can jeopardise the supporting teeth. A denture needs to be adjusted and replaced regularly. The implant is an investment in a restoration that will last a lifetime with routine care and maintenance.
