If you have a bit of sticker shock after receiving a quote for a dental implant, you’re not alone. Inserting dental implants is a long and involved procedure that requires a lot of specialized equipment and expertise, so the surgery isn’t cheap. However, most patients find that their dental implants really are well worth what they paid for them. Here’s why.
Dental implants help protect your other teeth.
When you’re missing a tooth, the bone around that empty tooth socket tends to break down. This cause the teeth next to the missing tooth to shift or loosen. A dental implant stimulates your jaw bone just like a natural tooth would, so the neighboring teeth remain in good health.
Dental bridges tend to be cheaper than implants, but since they don’t extend below the gum line, they don’t stimulate the jaw bone and prevent bone loss. Plus, bridges can be hard on neighboring teeth since they attach to them.
Implants look and feel just like natural teeth. Your dentist will customize the color of your implant crown to match your real teeth. The implant will feel just like a natural tooth in your mouth when you run your tongue over it and when you chew.
They can last for the rest of your life.
The crown portion of the implant, which is the portion above the gums that you see, may have to be replaced after 15 years or so. Some patients never need it replaced. The root portion of the implant, however, should last as long as you live. So while you’ll pay a bit up front for the implant, you will get a lifetime of use out of it.
To learn more about dental implants or to get an estimate, contact us today.
