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In a perfect world, we’d retain our own teeth throughout our entire lives, but unfortunately, many of us wind up suffering from tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth loss. If you’ve lost teeth or intend to have teeth extracted, you may be a candidate for dental implants. If you’re new to dental implants, you likely have many questions about their safety and effectiveness. NextGen OMS of Frisco, TX, specializes in dental implants. You can meet with an oral surgeon on our team to discuss your questions or concerns. Here, we’ll outline the pros and cons associated with these dental features and the oral surgery associated with them.

What Are Dental Implants?

A dental implant is a screw-like post that replaces the root of a tooth or teeth. The resulting artificial tooth or teeth that top the post will look and function similarly to actual teeth. Dental implants are constructed from titanium and are fused to the patient’s jawbone. Providing you have good oral health, you may be a strong candidate for dental implants, providing your jaw is fully developed, don’t have issues that may affect bone recovery, and can devote several months to the implant process. Dental implants are preferable to dentures for many people. If you don’t like the idea of dentures or bridgework, talk to an oral surgeon at NextGen OMS to learn more about dental implants and why they might prove ideal for your situation.

What Are the Pros of Dental Implants?

There are lots of advantages to getting dental implants today to replace missing teeth. We’ll outline them as follows:

Almost Like Natural Teeth

The chief advantage of dental implants from your oral surgeon is that you can expect them to behave almost like your own natural teeth. These implants feel like natural teeth and are designed to last a lifetime, provided they are optimally cared for. In fact, many of our Frisco, TX, patients at NextGen OMS report that they can’t tell the difference between their real teeth and implants.

Designed to Last

Titanium is a strong and durable hypoallergenic material. Your titanium dental implant post is designed to last a lifetime. You can ensure the longevity of your dental implants by caring for them just as you care for your natural teeth with routine dental hygiene and periodic visits to your dentist for checkups and dental care.

Reduce the Risk of Gum Disease

Another benefit of dental implants is that they can reduce the risk of gum disease. When your gums are exposed because of a missing tooth or teeth, they’re more vulnerable to bacteria. Bacteria can cause infection and gum disease, which not only affects your oral health, but it can affect your overall health too.

Maintain Teeth Stability

If you have a missing tooth or several teeth, it can lead to the instability of your remaining teeth. Teeth can shift or even loosen without stability. Dental implants will take the place of missing teeth and prevent instability from occurring. They will ensure that your bite is not affected. They’ll help keep your remaining teeth in place and your smile intact.

Bone Loss Prevention

If you have lost a tooth, your jaw is likely to experience bone loss. This is because there’s no stimulation to the bone in the area of the missing tooth. A dental implant prevents bone loss, ensuring that your jaw has the stimulation it needs to promote bone growth. If you’re on the fence and trying to decide between dental implants and dentures, remember that sometimes dentures can actually spur bone loss because they’re prone to becoming loose.

What Are the Disadvantages of Dental Implants?

Dental implants may not be ideal or even preferable for everyone. Here are some of the cons associated with dental implants:

Cost

Many dental insurance plans do not cover dental implants in spite of their many advantages to people’s oral health. Hopefully, this may change over time, but for some people, the cost may seem steep, especially if multiple dental implants are needed.

Multiple Procedures

Dental implants require multiple procedures before the process is complete. For instance, the site where the implant will be added requires preparation. Multiple procedures require multiple visits to your oral surgery and plenty of recovery time between each visit. Some patients are put off by the more extensive process involved in procuring dental implants.

Associated Risks

Many dental surgeries and procedures are associated with some degree of risk. For instance, an infection can set in after a tooth extraction. Similarly, there may be complications associated with dental implants and surgeries. Your Frisco, TX, oral surgeon can discuss them with you. Unpleasant complications can involve bleeding, infection, and even implant failure.

Sometimes, an injury can occur at the implant site that affects the nerves, blood vessels, or gums. That’s why it’s important to choose an experienced oral surgeon who performs dental implant procedures on a frequent basis. Typically, dental implant procedures are safe, which is why they’re a popular tooth replacement option today.

At our practice, we routinely perform dental implant surgeries. Following your oral surgeon’s instructions is the best way to safeguard your dental implants. Your oral surgeon will provide you with care instructions before and after each procedure. Proper can is associated with positive healing outcomes.

At NextGen OMS, we understand that patients are naturally concerned about the safety of dental implants. When you consult with an oral surgeon on our team, we can discuss the advantages and disadvantages of these features in greater detail, particularly as they apply to your specific oral health. We’re here to help you decide if dental implants are the right course for you. Contact us to schedule an appointment to consult with an oral surgeon about your oral healthcare needs.