Dentists in the United States place approximately 5 million dental implants annually; dental implants are an effective and popular tooth replacement option. Despite their drawbacks, dental implants offer a wide range of benefits—many of which are not available with other tooth replacement options. If you have lost one or more teeth, dental implants offer several unique benefits that outweigh their drawbacks.

Benefits Of Dental Implants

There are various benefits of dental implants. Some of them are:

1. Versatility 

Your treatment options may be limited depending on how many teeth you have lost with bridges, partial dentures, and complete dentures. Implants, on the other hand, offer incredibly versatile treatment options. You and your dentist can design the perfect treatment together by having your dentist fit a crown to replace a single tooth, a bridge or partial denture to replace multiple or a complete denture to replace all of your teeth.

2. Comfortable To Wear

Dental implants are inserted directly into your jawbone and connected to a titanium rod to provide a more solid support for the prosthetic. This process encourages your jawbone to grow around the rod, further reinforcing it and making the implant feel like one of your teeth. Other tooth replacement options cannot achieve such an effect due to their inability to simulate the feeling of tooth roots, resulting in them needing to be more secure and natural compared to implants.

3. Easier To Speak 

It is essential that our teeth can help us form certain sounds, so missing a few key teeth at the front of the mouth can have a surprising effect on how you speak. Loose dentures can slide as you talk, causing you to slur or lisp. This can be embarrassing and distracting, as you’re always concerned about whether or not your dentures will slip or how your voice will sound.

4. Allow You To Eat The Foods You Like

Dental implants replace missing molars, allowing you to chew on whatever food you want! Plus, implants are firmly rooted into your jawbone, so they don’t require the same restrictions as traditional dentures. So go clench down on that corn on the cob.

5. Look Natural

Thanks to current materials and technological advances, your dental implants will look as natural as they feel. Your prosthetic is crafted precisely to ensure it looks as good as it feels. Those of you fortunate enough to have healthy natural teeth can rely on the accuracy of the prosthetic being designed to match them perfectly. For those with dentures, the acrylic gums are tailored to resemble a person’s actual gums in color closely. Regardless if you opt for crowns, a bridge, or dentures, no one can tell which teeth are genuine and which aren’t!

6. Boost Your Self-esteem

It is easy to become self-conscious if you have a gap in your smile. You can go out and have fun without wasting a second thought about your teeth. Implants can give you a smile that looks and feels natural, allowing you to speak and smile with confidence.

7. Better Oral Health

Receiving a dental implant may seem intimidating, but relatively speaking, it is a much more conservative solution than bridges. Implants are installed in the jaw just like natural teeth, while bridges require crowns on the healthy teeth adjacent to the gap. Working on healthy teeth can weaken them, so implants are a better choice for preserving your oral health in the long term.

8. Durable

Dental implants are renowned for their durability. With adequate dental hygiene, they should last you your entire lifetime, though some wear and tear may necessitate you to switch the crown out every 15 years or so. In contrast, bridges must be changed roughly every 5-15 years, depending on how well they’re cared for. Dentures, on the other hand, require replacement every 5 to 8 years, and due to bone loss in your jaw, you will need regular adjustments for a proper fit. What makes this form of tooth restoration particularly advantageous, from an economic perspective, is that once inserted, there’s no need for additional modifications; implants provide a hassle-free solution for the long term.

The Bottom Line

Dental implants offer many benefits that can significantly improve the quality of life for those with missing or damaged teeth. Dental implants are a smart choice for many patients, from the confidence boost that comes with a complete and healthy smile to the practical advantages of preserving the health of surrounding teeth. While getting dental implants may take some time and require multiple appointments, the result is a durable, long-lasting solution that can last for years.