A: They should be, right? I say that teasing, but mostly—they are. Dental implants have a very high success rate—over 97%. That being said, we can get things to last a very long time when we have a team effort.

We, as dentists, doing a great job and then patients at home taking really good care of what we put in there.”

One of the biggest concerns we hear from patients regarding dental implants in Webster, is if they really are permanent? Often this question is asked based on dental implants costing more than dentures. However, the financial comparison of dentures vs. dental implants is somewhat misleading if you only look at the upfront costs. You also have to consider hidden costs of dentures, and the consequences of a missing tooth.

One of the most visible and expressive features of a person is their smile—it’s priceless. When you have a great-looking, healthy smile it boosts your self-image and gives you a more confident disposition.

However, when you lose a tooth either to oral trauma, tooth decay, or another disease—it can have a very damaging effect on how you see yourself. When seeking out a suitable solution for tooth loss, you have to first consider the consequences of losing a tooth.

What Happens When You Lose A Tooth

Many people visit their dentist when dealing with the loss of a tooth, and are presented with two main options— dentures or implants. However, only one solution is a true restoration for missing teeth. That is why so many people seek out dental implants in Webster to get their smiles back.

The problem lies in the impact that a missing tooth makes on your oral health and general health altogether. When you lose a tooth, you end up with a laundry list of issues you can face:

Altered Oral Mechanics

Once a tooth is missing, it alters the mechanics and balance of the other teeth that remain in your mouth. Teeth will often shift out of alignment when the other teeth that hold them in place are missing. As the teeth shift they usually become crooked, leave gaps between teeth, or even become misaligned and get behind or in front of each other. This causes the shape of your jaw and cheeks to change and causes pain or bite issues. This also allows food to be trapped in between which can cause halitosis and other serious hygiene-related diseases.

Bone Loss

Once a tooth is lost, the area it once occupied in the jaw gets no more stimulation or use, which brings on bone atrophy and eventually bone loss. Bone loss alters the shape of the jaw and mouth but also makes any further correction such as implants, very difficult as bone is required to mount implants.

Decreased Quality Of Life

When you lose a tooth it causes much more serious secondary effects than just being ashamed to show your smile or having trouble eating certain foods. It also tends to alter your diet and how nutrients are absorbed by your body due to a lack of proper chewing. While feeling self-conscious in social settings is a sad thing, the impact it has on your health is even worse.

The worst decision you can make is to do nothing— replacing missing teeth is the only solution that improves your oral health. The decision on which method to go about replacing your teeth needs to be made with sufficient knowledge about each method and the expertise of an experienced practice such as Clear Lake Dental Care.

Once you have done your research, you’ll understand why so many do choose dental implants in Webster. First, you have to understand more about dentures to realize why they are more of a band-aid solution.

What You Should Know About Dentures

Dentures are removable dental prosthetics that are a substitute for missing teeth and some of the gum tissue as well. There are complete dentures that replace all of the teeth in either your upper jaw, lower jaw, or both—and partials that just fill in the gaps for a few missing teeth. While complete dentures rest directly on the gums, partials are held in place by clasps that are supported by existing teeth on either side.

All dentures have a gum-colored acrylic base that supports the dentures and some include a frame for added support.

Why Some Patients Choose Dentures:

• Dentures cost less upfront than implants.
• Dentures can be used in patients that have significant bone and gum erosion.
• Fitting and applying dentures does not require surgery or any drilling.
• Dentures usually only take about four visits to be completed.

The Caveats Of Dentures:

• Dentures often have to be adjusted and maybe even replaced as the shape of your face and gums change with natural aging—this can add significantly to the overall cost of dentures. In some cases, the overall cost can approach the cost of dental implants in Webster.
•  Dentures take quite a bit of adjusting to. Some effects of the adjustment include altered speech, difficulty chewing and swallowing, uncontrolled salivation, and the dentures slipping out.
• As with your regular teeth, dentures need daily care or you could catch an infection in your mouth from unclean dentures.

So, if dentures aren’t the best solution, what makes dental implants the preferred solution for most patients? Naturally, you need to read up a bit on dental implants to understand why they are so preferred.

FYI Regarding Dental Implants In Webster

When patients come to us for dental implants, it’s because they seek a permanent solution to a temporary problem—missing teeth.

Dental implants are designed with advanced materials that feel, function, and look just like natural teeth. Implants will not rot as they are not an organic material, however, they can stain, so normal oral care is important. If you do take care of them properly you can expect them to last a lifetime.

When you opt for dental implants in Webster, they are permanently affixed to the jawbone—unlike dentures. Therefore, they help maintain bone strength, facial definition, and normal oral function without impeding daily activities.

Implants do require surgery and some follow-up as a titanium post is drilled into the bone as an anchor for the prosthetic crown to attach to. So, this is not a procedure you want to just get done at any clinic from a general dentist. The procedure requires a high level of expertise and experience in dental implant surgery. Make sure you only go to a respected prosthodontist such as Dr. Das, that has many years of experience with dental implants in Webster.

 Why Most Patients Choose Dental Implants:

• The success rate of dental implants is over 95%.
• The lifespan of typical dental implants is at least 20 years or more.
•  Implant care is the same care you would undertake for your real teeth.
• Implants preserve facial structure and bone strength.
• When you get implants done at Clear Lake Dental Care, we can have your implants done in one day in most cases. After that, all you need is a follow-up visit to make sure all is going as planned.

Misconceptions About Dental Implants In Webster

Many people seem to think dentures are the only solution for missing teeth. It’s likely because they’ve never looked into dental implants. However, another problem is that many people believe two common misconceptions about dental implants:

• “Dental implants are only for the wealthy.”— Yes, dental implants have an initial higher cost than dentures but that stat alone is misleading. Over the years, maintenance costs, as well as intangible health-related costs of dentures, can almost be as much as the initial cost of dental implants. Furthermore, we have affordable financing options that make dental implants accessible for most patients!
• “You can’t get dental implants if you smoke or have diabetes.”— It’s not impossible, but it is a bit more difficult— as with any surgical procedure. Implants require you to have healthy bone composition and gums to secure the implant properly. But also, you have to have a healthy immune system for healing. Unfortunately both smoking and diabetes cause issues with healing. However, if you can commit to stop smoking at least 3 months before your procedure and keep refraining—it is possible. Likewise with diabetes. If you keep it under control with insulin, diet, and other prescriptions, it’s also possible.

Change Your Life With Dental Implants

The bottom line is that dental implants are the best solution for missing teeth without argument.

If you’re concerned that health problems or financial struggles may prevent you from getting dental implants you may be surprised.

Our team works with patients with health issues all the time and with the right treatment plan, it can be done. As far as financial concerns, we work with some of the best lenders in the industry to help patients get the smile restoration they need.

If you’re suffering from missing teeth and want to smile again, contact us today and schedule a free consultation for dental implants.