Finding an implant dentist you can trust is of the utmost importance when you have lost one or more teeth. Implant dentistry is a highly specialized branch of dentistry which requires additional surgical training, as well as the artistic eye of a cosmetic dentist. A successful dental implant depends on all these things, plus your own oral and overall health.
If you do not already have an implant dentist who you work with, you may wonder if finding one is really all that important, or if you should simply replace your missing teeth with a partial denture, the way dentists have been replacing missing teeth for centuries. Understanding the real value of a skilled implant dentist requires comparing the old-fashioned method of using partials versus dental implants, and understanding why the dental industry is moving toward implants as the standard in tooth replacement.
Partials
A partial is a removable false tooth or set of false teeth that rest on your gums between your existing teeth. Because they are not permanently affixed in your mouth, you may have difficulty chewing or even speaking if they do not fit properly, and you must remove them to clean them. Partials, also called partial dentures, are made exactly like full dentures with the exception that they are held in place with a metal bracket affixed to your remaining teeth.
An additional problem with partial dentures is that they do not protect or stimulate your jaw bone or gum tissue. Over time, without your natural tooth roots in place, your jaw bone material and gums may begin to disintegrate.
Finally, partials often look unnatural because they are a series of false teeth affixed to a false gum line. No matter how carefully your dentist tries to match the color and shape of your partial to your natural teeth, on close inspection they will always appear fake.
Dental Implants
Dental implants make up for all the failings of partial dentures because they:
Look like natural teeth
Perform like real teeth
Are permanently fixed in your mouth
Are cared for like your natural teeth
Where partial dentures are often made of resin, dental implants use porcelain crowns, which can be made to look virtually identical to your natural teeth. The titanium post of a dental implant is hidden well under your gum line and is not visible once the porcelain crown has been placed. There are no additional metal fixtures or brackets required to hold the dental implant in place, and your implant is not at risk of coming out because of a sticky or chewy food.
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