Dental implants are the number one tooth replacement option when it comes to prioritizing your oral health. Not only are dental implants reliable, long-lasting, and natural-looking, but they also support jawbone health. A healthy jawbone plays an important role in both your oral health and your overall health. It holds your teeth in place, allowing you to chew the foods that nourish your body. No other tooth-replacement option does that.
Still, many people opt for lesser tooth replacement options because of the financial costs associated with dental implants. And many of them regret that decision because in the end, the lesser option often costs more. Dental implants may require you to spend more initially, but in the long run, they can save you money, time, and emotional strain. Here’s why:
Dental implants last longer
It may be tempting to opt for the less expensive tooth replacement options, such as dentures or bridges, but if they have to be replaced more often, then in the end you may actually be spending more. Maintenance costs should be calculated into the total as well. Unlike dentures and bridges, dental implants don’t need replacement, maintenance, fixatives, or refitting.
Dental implants do not require special care
Caring for dental implants is the same as caring for your natural teeth. Brushing, flossing, and regular visits to the dentist are all you need to keep them in good condition. Dentures, on the other hand, need to be removed, soaked, brushed, and rinsed daily. Dental implants are more convenient, and less socially awkward—with dental implants, you don’t have to spend a single moment of your day without all your teeth.
Dental implants help to preserve your jawbone
Your teeth and your jawbone have a symbiotic relationship. The jawbone supports the teeth, keeping them in place so you can eat and talk comfortably. In turn, the teeth support the jawbone, giving it a reason to continue growing and to stay strong. Dentures can replace the missing tooth crown, but not the root, without which the jawbone begins to deteriorate. This can affect the rest of your teeth, resulting in loose teeth, shifting teeth, and other dental issues that cost time and money to fix. Dental implants, however, replace the whole tooth, including the root, preserving your jawbone and saving you money and trouble down the road.
Dental implants fit, feel, and function like natural teeth
Although some dentures do look quite natural at first, they will never stay that way for long. Because as the jawbone deteriorates, the dentures become loose and shift position at inopportune times. Dental implants are permanent, and they look and function just like natural teeth. They save you the discomfort and embarrassment associated with slipping or loose-fitting dentures.
Dental implants save your appearance
Our teeth play an important role in the way we look. When the jawbone deteriorates, the face loses structure and definition. As mentioned above, dentures cannot support the jawbone. And while your appearance may not have a monetary value, losing what makes you look like you can have a significant emotional toll. When you opt for dental implants, you’re investing in your self-esteem, and that counts for a lot.
The financial and emotional cost of not getting the best dental implants
When you make the decision to invest in yourself and replace your missing teeth with dental implants, the best way to ensure that you get exactly what you want is to choose a highly experienced dental professional who uses the highest quality dental implants. Not all implants are created equal, and not all dental practitioners have the same experience or skill level in performing the procedure. Discount dentists and low-cost implants could end up costing you more in time, effort, and frustration. Just as you’re choosing the best tooth replacement option, and the best dental practitioner, you also want to be sure the implants themselves are manufactured with the highest quality materials and created with the best implant design for maximum comfort, strength and durability.
Need dental implants? You’re in excellent hands with Dr. Kennie Kwok
At San Diego Periodontics and Implant Dentistry, you’re under the care of one of San Diego’s most well-respected and sought-after dental implant surgeons. Dr. Kwok is Board Certified in both periodontology and dental implant surgery, and he has a thorough knowledge of the teeth, gums, and jawbone, as well as extensive experience performing dental implant surgery. If you’re looking for a compassionate and highly skilled dental practitioner with a commitment to patient satisfaction and comfort, you’re in the right place.
Give us a call at (619) 543-0905 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Kwok today.