Affordable Dental Implants
Dental implants also feel more natural than other teeth replacement options. Unlike temporary replacements, implants will not slip and slide when chewing or speaking. Similarly, there are more food possibilities with implants than with dentures.
What Are Dental Implants?
The dental implant procedure is surgical and provides permanent replacements for missing teeth. Unlike dentures, dental implants are not removable, and they will last for decades with proper care.Your dentist will either implant the base under your gums or into your jaw. There are two types of implants:
- Endosteal implants are secured directly to the jaw, which will make prosthetic teeth feel more natural as well as help you retain bone structure. Endosteal dental implants are more common.
- Subperiosteal implants secure artificial teeth from under the gum. This type is only used if your jaw does not have the bone strength or height to support endosteal implants.
Dental Implant Advantages
The benefits of dental implants outweigh those for dentures and bridges.
If you need to replace multiple teeth with a more permanent solution, then implants beat bridges and dentures. Dentures can replace several teeth but only as removal plates, which can slip and feel uncomfortable. While bridges are more secure, they cannot replace more than one tooth, sometimes two.
Some dental implant benefits include the following:
- Improved smile and appearance
- Better able to communicate
- More natural feeling
- Increased comfort
- Drinking and eating ease
- Better oral care
- Dental implants are also a better choice for your wallet long-term, as they last twice to three times as long as the other options. This long-term solution is just as beneficial for your smile’s appearance and your oral health.
Missing and damaged teeth impair more than speaking, eating and general confidence, the missing tooth can cause your gums to recede and the bone in your jaw to shrink. Although bridges and dentures can restore the appearance of your smile, neither of these options will prevent this damage from occurring.
Since implants stimulate natural bone growth, your jawbone will not deteriorate over time as it would with a missing tooth.
In fact, only the implant cost is the downside to this replacement option. However, the initial high cost of this procedure may be equal to the ongoing costs for replacements of dentures and bridges.
How to Find Affordable Dental Implants
To perform the implant procedure, dental professionals must have training. Your first step in getting the dental implant benefits is to locate a qualified professional.Below are options for finding an oral surgeon or a general dentist with training:
- Your current dentist may be able to fit you for dental implants if he or she has had additional training. He or she is also a good reference for oral surgeons who routinely do the procedure. Additionally, your dental insurance may require your dentist to formally refer you to a periodontist or for the procedure itself.
- Ask friends, family members and coworkers who have completed the implant procedure about their experience and periodontist. First-hand experience is a great resource if you are interested in implants.
- You can also search online for local oral surgeons who have many positive reviews from former patients. Look for reviews on third-party sites instead of directly on the dentist’s website, as these evaluations are part of advertising.
- Your insurance provider should also have an online directory of dentists available in your plan. Not all insurance sites will have reviews or ratings for healthcare professionals, so you should investigate each option before making an appointment.
Once you have found a qualified professional, the next step is to speak with him or her about if you are an ideal candidate. While almost anyone can get affordable dental implants, you must be healthy enough for oral surgery, have gums and jaw to support implants and commit to good oral hygiene.
