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ARE DENTAL IMPLANTS RIGHT FOR YOU?

Are Dental Implants Right for You?

  • Who Can Get Dental Implants?
  • Advantages of Dental Implants
  • Disadvantages of Dental Implants
  • How to Make the Most of Your Dental Implant

Dental implants are a form of restorative dentistry that helps improve the quality and appearance of your smile. Made to look and function exactly like your natural teeth, dental implants can be the perfect option for anyone with missing or damaged teeth.

Who Can Get Dental Implants?

Anyone with a healthy mouth can be a candidate for dental implants, including young adults. To be considered for dental implant surgery your gums and teeth must be in a healthy condition prior to the procedure. Untreated gum disease or tooth decay can lead to implant infection, implant failure, and implant loss.

Advantages of Dental Implants

Dental implants are a long-term solution to missing, chipped, discolored, or damaged teeth. Implants offer the following benefits when successful placed:

  • Improved appearance: Implants replace damaged teeth as well as fill in any gaps in your smile, significantly improving its appearance.
  • Convenience: Since implants fuse with your jawbone they are permanent and you won’t have to deal with constantly removing and replacing dentures.
  • Speech: Gaps in your smile can cause you to develop a lisp or slur your words. Dental implants may be able to help improve your diction when speaking by filling in the holes.
  • Durability: When properly taken care of, dental implants can last a lifetime ensuring you get the most out of your investment.
  • Cost-effective: Implants may seem expensive at first, but that initial price is a lifelong investment that can outlast less permanent restorative options.
  • Improved health: Implants can help improve oral hygiene and aim to preserve your remaining teeth and gum health.

Dental implants generally have a 98% success rate, and are well worth the investment for anyone looking to improve their smile.

Disadvantages of Dental Implants

  • High upfront cost can make implants seem expensive
  • Minor complications can arise requiring additional visits to the dentist
  • The process can take months since the initial placement of the “fixture,” the inner part of the implant, must fuse to your jawbone and healing needs to occur prior to completing the procedure
  • Infection can occur if proper oral care is not practiced

How to Make the Most of Your Dental Implant

The right care for your implant heavily impacts its success rate. To ensure your investment continues to pay off you’ll need to clean the implant just as you would your natural teeth:

  • Brush twice a day
  • Floss at least once
  • Add a rinse to remove more bacteria
  • See your dentist at least twice a year for professional cleanings and checkups

The health of your gums will also dictate the durability of your implants. Try switching to oral care products that aim to maintain gum health such as Oral-B® Genius Electric Toothbrush which comes with a gum care mode. Adding gum care toothpaste and mouthwash can also help.

Still not sure if implants are right for you? Your dentist may recommend other dental restoration options which may be a better fit.

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