TEN REASONS FOR CONSIDERING DENTAL IMPLANTS
The implant consists of a titanium alloy that is bio-compatible to bone and encourages the bone to form around it holding it in place. The healing process is referred to as osseointegration.
Once the implant becomes osseointegrated it helps to preserve alveolar bone. Approximately 60% of the bone in your jaws grew in response to the erupting teeth. When a tooth is extracted you go through a process of losing bone in that area that can last a lifetime. An implant helps to preserve this bone structure.
It helps to prevent malocclusion. When you lose a back tooth you set up shifting in the other teeth. Teeth adjacent tend to move into the space and the teeth opposing drift up or down into the newly formed space. Some spaces become "food traps" and contribute to bad breath and periodontal disease.
Implants can slow facial atrophy. Roughly 150 Newton of force is applied on normally functioning back teeth while only 50 Newton are applied on the front teeth. Non-pathological forces on the back teeth contribute to the preservation of facial muscle tone, hence our "looks".
Digestion is vastly improved with properly functioning teeth because the ability to crush food is enhanced.
People without teeth spend approximately 17% more on drugs. The Mayo Clinic studies also show that having teeth added approximately 10 years to your life expectancy.
There is an increased risk to the aspiration of food if you have no teeth. Aspiration of food is one of the causes of death in the elderly that hardly gets mentioned except in CPR courses.
Save money on denture adhesives. In America about $148million are spent on denture adhesives every year.
Complete lower dentures usually move about 10-12mm (¾ of an inch) during function and contribute to diet modifications that are less than nutritious. Many denture wearers develop anti-social tendencies because they are unwilling to go out for a meal.
A dental implant with abutment and crown costs about the same as a three unit bridge replacing a single tooth. A Cat scan guided program allow us to do the virtual surgery on the computer with you present so we can help you decide if you are a good candidate for this treatment.