Dental implants are a great long term option to replace missing teeth. 
What are dental implants?
Dental implants are artificial roots that create a permanent fixture to hold replacement teeth. Implants are a great long-term solution compared to other options such as dentures, bridges and crowns.
Dental implants feel secure compared to other options because doctors use a titanium implant. Over time, this implant will actually fuse to the current bone of the jaw. This reliable anchor means that teeth do not move, unlike what typically occurs with dentures. There’s no need to regularly replace implants, and it’s easy to eat as with normal teeth.
Dental implants have 3 parts:
#1: The implant
This is a screw that acts as a root for your new teeth and attaches permanently to your jaw.
#2: The abutment
This piece is removable by your dentist and supports a tooth or a set of teeth.
#3: The crown
This is also referred to as the prosethic tooth and is the piece that shows when you smile. These are typically made of porcelain or zirconium for looks and durability.
Top benefits of dental implants:
- Prevent further bone loss because it stimulates your jaw
- Matches your current teeth including look and tint
- Restores the force of your bite because of the artificial root
- Maintains the shape of your face that you can lose with other artificial alternatives
- Maintains natural speech because implants function like your normal teeth
- They require care but you will never have cavities in artificial teeth
- No embarrassing slippage that occurs with dentures
- Dental implants fill the gap in your teeth to prevent other teeth from moving
- A long-term solution to tooth loss
By far, I think the most important benefit to implants is that your current teeth are not negatively impacted. When looking for possible options to replace a front tooth, I discovered that bridges are created by attaching to existing teeth. Teeth in perfect condition are altered to the same level to fit the bridge. They also have to be replaced in approximately 10 years. If well-cared for, a dental implant can last a lifetime!
Dental implants do occasionally need maintenance, but it’s very rare as compared to other options such as dentures or crowns. For example, 3 years after having my dental implant, I had to have a screw replaced. It was a simple procedure that my dentist performed in less than 30 minutes. Since the dental implant is a permanent piece to the jawline, my implant did not have to be adjusted at all. It looks and feels great! Dental implants are the best solution to replace teeth. My implant looks and feels natural. I can’t even tell the difference in my implant and my own teeth because the material used to make the crown is so similar to real teeth!
