Do I Need Dental Implants? Are They Better Than Dentures or Bridges?

• Appearance.
• Health.
• Comfort.
• Convenience. 

If you want to tick all these boxes, you need implants. Continue reading the rest of our implant guide to find out why. 

Implant benefits

Patients choose dental implants because implants offer several advantages compared with traditional dentures and bridges. Benefits of implants include:

• Implants look, feel and function like natural teeth. 
• Implants help to maintain facial structure by bonding with the jaw.
• Unlike bridges, the dental implant procedure doesn’t require trimming of the healthy structure of adjacent teeth.
• Multiple implants can be fitted during a single appointment.
• No special implant care is needed – you brush and floss as usual.
• Implants give you long-lasting results.
• The dental implant procedure has a success rate of up to 98 per cent – the highest for any type of dental surgery.

Reasons you may need implants

Signs you need implants fitted include:

Dentures not fitting properly

Ill-fitting dentures can become loose and slip around. This can cause discomfort as well as embarrassment when you eat, talk or smile. Dental implants provide far better stability, and your artificial teeth will stay put. 

Your jawbone has started to weaken

If you haven’t had a missing tooth or teeth replaced, bone in the jaw will deteriorate and recede over time. Dental implants avoid this problem. They’re placed directly into the jaw and help to prevent further bone loss. 

Your face is sagging

As well as jawbone loss, missing teeth can result in a sunken facial appearance. This is also a common problem among denture wearers. Dentures can’t promote bone growth as dental implants do. 

You want a healthy smile

Dental implants are unique in dentistry in encouraging bone growth – crucial for a healthy smile. Besides maintaining facial shape to give you a more youthful appearance, dental implants also resist staining, unlike natural teeth. 

You’re missing out on your favourite foods

Tooth loss – and dentures – can make it difficult or impossible to eat hard foods such as apples, corn on the cob, popcorn, and tough meat. With dental implants, you can tuck into your favourite foods with no worries. 

Why you need to replace missing teeth?

By middle age, many people have lost teeth through decay, gum disease or injury. It’s essential to replace missing teeth to avoid issues such as:

• Cosmetic dental concerns – gaps left by missing teeth can spoil your smile and result in loss of self-confidence.
• Jawbone erosion – without stimulus from a tooth root, bone in the jaw will waste away.
• Digestive problems – every tooth has an important job in enabling you to chew and grind up food. 
• Speech difficulties – your teeth help to form words by controlling airflow from the mouth.

How does the dental implant procedure work?

The dental implant procedure can replace a single tooth, several teeth or all your teeth. The implant forms an artificial tooth root after a small titanium post is placed into the socket of a missing tooth. Jawbone regrows after dental implant surgery, and the biocompatible titanium fuses with the bone. 

When replacing one tooth, your dentist will fit a crown onto the implant. Implants can also be used as a base for dentures and bridges. Different types of implants are now available, including micro and mini versions of the standard-sized implant.

Advances in technology have led to the development of digital dental implants, which can be placed with more precision in as little as 15 minutes. 

Do I need dental implants now, or can I get them later?

If you delay dental implant surgery, you’re putting your oral health and overall health at serious risk.

You start to lose bone density in your jaw almost immediately after tooth loss. Twelve months on, and it’s likely you’ll need a bone graft ahead of the dental implant procedure. And the longer you postpone dental implant surgery, the more teeth next to the gap will shift out of position.

Missing teeth can also cause bite problems and chronic jaw pain because of a condition called temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). According to the WebMD health information source, TMD often causes severe pain.

Putting off a dental implant procedure can also hit your pocket. The need for longer, more extensive dental work such as a bone graft will cost a lot more than a straightforward implant procedure. 

Am I a good candidate for implants?

If you’re in good overall health with a fully developed jaw, you’re likely to qualify for dental implant surgery.

Ideally, you should also have sufficient quality bone in your jaw to anchor the implant. However, if there’s a problem, a bone graft may provide the solution.

You’ll also need to commit to good oral hygiene. Regular brushing and flossing are imperative, and so are regular check-ups and professional cleanings. 

How much do implants cost?

Dental implants cost several thousand dollars. DDSS/DDII offer dental finance plans so you can get the treatment when you need it and spread the cost to suit your budget. We’ll also guarantee that if an implant fails within 12 months for any reason, we’ll replace it free of charge.

First, we’ll carry out a thorough evaluation of your mouth and jaw to answer your question, “Do I need dental implants?”

And if the answer is yes, you’ll be in safe hands – dental professionals using advanced digital implant techniques. Contact us now!

Sydney: (02) 8294 5812
Gosford: (02) 8294 8656

Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.