Caring for your teeth can be frustrating and time consuming, even if they’re healthy. It would be a lot easier if you could just replace them all with dental implants and avoid all that maintenance, right? Imagine the time and money you’d save!
Unfortunately, however, while that does seem like a lovely scenario, that’s not how dental implants work. They must still be brushed and flossed, and even though they’re prosthetic, you must still visit the dentist for semi-annual checkups. If you’re considering replacing your healthy teeth with dental implants, here are a few important reasons why you shouldn’t.
Why Choose Dental Implants?
There’s no doubt that dental implants are the best way to replace missing teeth, however they were designed to replace damaged teeth, not healthy ones. Dental implants are a natural looking, comfortable way to permanently restore your smile. They are implanted into the jaw and topped with a crown that works just like a real tooth. You get greater biteforce than you would with a missing tooth or with other types of restorations, and they look so realistic most people won’t ever know they’re prosthetics.
Furthermore, because they are secured to your jawbone, dental implants help maintain the integrity of the bone, helping to keep it strong and to protect any remaining natural teeth.
Why to NOT Choose Dental Implants
Unfortunately, not everyone is a good candidate for dental implants. Some patients may have too much bone deterioration for a successful implantation. While this can sometimes be corrected by a bone graft, in some cases the deterioration may be too advanced for this procedure to help.
Another reason you should not get dental implants is if you don’t truly need them. If your teeth are otherwise healthy, or if you have a condition that can be repaired by other, less invasive means, it is always recommended to keep your natural teeth for as long as possible. Here are a few reasons you should not replace your tooth with a dental implant:
- It is discolored or stained and can be treated with veneers or professional whitening.
- It is chipped and can be repaired with direct bonding.
- It is infected or cracked and can be restored after a root canal.
Why Is It So Important to Keep My Natural Teeth?
If you’re still not convinced that it’s better to keep your natural teeth in place for as long as you can, consider their benefits:
- Healthy teeth will always have a stronger biteforce than any type of dental restoration, including dental implants.
- They maintain the integrity of your jawbone and keep the rest of your teeth in alignment.
- It’s more affordable to repair damage to a healthy tooth than it is to remove it and replace it with a dental implant.
Remember, while dental implants are the gold standard in prosthetics, nothing will ever be better than your healthy teeth, and once you remove a tooth, the procedure is irreversible. Dental implants may look natural, but they will never feel quite the same as your biological teeth, and keeping your real teeth for as long as possible has myriad health benefits that no prosthetics can replace.
About Our Practice
The team at Dentistry by Brand has been bringing smiles to Garland families since 1986. We attribute our success to several key factors: we are family owned and operated, we provide comprehensive care to patients of all ages, we use the latest in dental technology, and we will never try to sell you a service or treatment you don’t need.
If you have a tooth that needs to be repaired or restored, give our team a chance to treat it before resorting to having replaced. For those teeth that do need replacement, we are proud to offer dental implants. If you’d like to learn more about your tooth restoration options, schedule an appointment today by visiting our website or calling 972-882-9283.