Tooth loss can be a sensitive issue, and many patients are in the dark when it comes to deciding between dental implants or dentures. Choosing a treatment for lost teeth is a very personal decision, and the team at ABC Dental Care understands the fears and apprehensions of patients. Before choosing a treatment for lost teeth, there are some things to consider and understand about dental implants.
One: Dental Implants Help Prevent Bone Loss
As soon as a tooth is lost, the bone surrounding that area begins to shrink. This bone loss is a continual process, which means as more bone is lost; the shape of your jaw will change. Dentures do not stop this process of deterioration and as the jaw continues to change, dentures will become loose and no longer fit correctly.
With dental implants, the bone loss is stopped. Implants are fused to the jaw which preserves bone mass and allows patients the freedom to eat and drink like they did with natural teeth while maintaining the health of the jaw.
Two: Implants Help You Maintain Your Daily Life
Many patients with partial dentures chew better when the partials are removed while dental implant patients chew as well as they did before their implants. Patients with their natural teeth can bite with 200 pounds of force. This force is greatly reduced by dentures, leaving patients with the ability to chew with only about 50 pounds of force. The longer a patient wears dentures, the more that number deteriorates and many patients are reduced to eating only soft foods after decades of denture wear.
This change also means that long-term denture wearers can end up eating a less nutritional diet than patients with implants and the health consequences from decreased nutritional intake are infinite. Patients with dental implants, however, will notice a change in sensation in the first few weeks after surgery, but once they get used to that sensation, they report normal chewing functions.
Three: Dental Implants Can Last A Lifetime
With proper care and maintenance, your dental implants can last you many years, and even the rest of your life. Just like natural teeth or teeth with fillings and crowns, sometimes things go wrong and you’ll need to have them replaced.
If you care for your implants as you would care for your natural teeth and continue with regular dental checkups, you may never need to have Dr. Kevin replace them. It’s important to remember that implants are not natural teeth. You still need to brush and floss each day, and if your original tooth loss was due to gum disease, you’ll need to be extra vigilant about the care of your teeth, implants, and gums.
Four: You May Still Be A Candidate For Implant Surgery
Dental Implants have been around since the 1960’s but the technology has come a long way. Even if you’ve experienced some bone loss from missing teeth, Dr. Kevin may be able to help you.
Your bone and gums may be “rebuilt” to be able to accept implants. Every patient is different, so a consultation for dental implants at ABC Dental Care would be the first step in determining if you’re still a candidate for implants.
Five: The Healing Time For Implants Can Be Short
Some patients may shy away from dental implants because they fear the healing time will be long. Depending upon the general health of the patient and the condition of the jaw, healing time can be as little as a few weeks. Some patients will take a longer to heal, up to six months, but Dr. Khorshid can work with you to determine what you can expect from your implant surgery recovery.
Choose The Right Dental Implant Dentist
If you have lost teeth or are in fear of losing your teeth from gum disease, you’ll want so seek out a highly skilled dentist. There are many dentists who claim to be experts on dental implants in Las Vegas, but Dr. Kevin has made a career out of preserving his patients’ smiles. He evaluates each patient to determine whether they are a candidate for dental implants and then works with them on the best course of action. Patients know every step of the way exactly what to expect from Dr. Kevin.