Dental Implants: Cons and Pros
Today we can definitely say that dental implants are the most advanced method of restoring integrity of dentition in modern dentistry, actively replacing traditional prosthetics. However, every phenomenon has two sides, so today we would like to present all the pros and cons of installing dental implants.
Teeth implantation is a relative innovation. In medicine, it is very important to have deferred results. As you understand, this is the only way you can find out what will happen to the patient in a year, two or twenty after operation.
A main "pro" argument of dental implants installation for many patients is that theoretically they will serve you in vivo, but do not forget that maximum fixed life of a dental implant is 40 years, because officially for such period implants are installed. For comparison, average life of traditional dental crowns and dentures is 3-8 years.
The second most important argument “pro” for implantation is the fact that installation of a dental implant does not require grinding two adjacent, quite possibly perfectly healthy teeth, and also does not involve adjacent teeth during prosthetic wear, saving them from premature damage due to overloading or uneven load. Namely, if you, for example, decided to install a bridge structure, neighboring teeth will need to be sharpened, in addition, even the most experienced prosthetist cannot at times predict how clinical picture will develop further, because human body is a changing system.
Not obvious at first glance is also a “pro” for the patient that during implantation, the bone around artificial root of a tooth receives a natural and regular load As a result, deformation and resorption of bones and, consequently, changes in maxillofacial joint, leading to problems with facial skin, headaches and severe deformity of occlusion.
Well, for some of our patients, especially for public people, the most important argument “pro” dental implants are an excellent aesthetic component. It is impossible to deny that implantation gives any person a Hollywood smile, regardless of natural data. Dental implants are indistinguishable from natural teeth; dentures are also very beautiful, but only in the NYC dentist's office. In the mouth of the patient they often look exactly like “prosthesis".
In addition to aesthetics, implants do not steal you from living in full. After engrafting and installing a crown on dental implant, they are felt completely like your own teeth, because in fact the root of the patient's tooth is changed to a titanium root. In addition, the palate (mouth roof) is not closed with prosthesis, so the taste buds in it are not blocked and do not change taste when eating.
The argument "pro" for people who have lost all teeth for some reason is that any kind of full prosthetics on implants is much more securely fastened in the mouth and allows not being afraid of unexpected loss of artificial teeth during sneezing or talking.
Caring for a dental implant is easier than for prosthesis and will not differ much from caring for your own teeth.
Now Let's Talk About the Other Side of Implantation
The main argument "against" is a lack of full guarantee of implant implantation. The risk can be minimized by choosing an experienced implant surgeon at the tooth extraction stage. A conscientious dental surgeon will never incline you to use cheap analogues of dental implants and related materials for implantation operation. Qualitative implants are made of high-quality bioinert titanium, which remains invisible to the human body throughout its life, which reduces risk of rejection to almost zero. However, few implant surgeons mention that there is a factor of individual reaction of the organism, even if operation was carried out perfectly. When deciding on dental implantation, remember that 100% of the guarantee cannot be given by any decent doctor. You can still get into those less than 1% of people whose implants for unexplained reasons do not get accustomed.
Also, many dental clinics, focused on the flow of patients, often hold back that the implant manufacturer gives a lifetime guarantee to the dental implant itself, and not to installing it. Therefore, before operation, always specify not the life of the implant itself, but the warranty period for its installation.
For busy people who cannot fall out of work even for a short while, the argument "against" will be the fact that dental implantation is at least a small, but still real surgical intervention that creates a certain strain on the body and requires careful follow-up of postoperative regime.
There is a list of relative and temporary contraindications, for example, during pregnancy implantation should be postponed, and for mental illnesses dental implants are strictly contraindicated. However, it should be noted that diabetes mellitus and periodontitis (periodontitis) are not contraindications, contrary to popular belief. On the contrary, they can even help stimulate bone regeneration with proper taking care of the patient after implantation. Postponed oncological diseases are also no longer a contraindication.
To facilitate your choice, let's briefly summarize all the arguments "for" and "against" dental implants.
Arguments "for" Implantation
- Long or lifetime durability
- Neighboring teeth are not involved in the process of prosthetics
- No risk of deformation of the jaw, bite, joint and oval face
- Perfect aesthetics and complete naturalness
- Preservation of naturalness of sensations
- No need for complex care
Arguments Against Implantation
- Possibility of getting into those less than 1% of people whose implant can be rejected
- Lack of opportunity to save, if there is an intention to get the best result
- Guarantee for the implant itself and its installation may be very different
- need for surgical intervention
- need to strictly follow instructions of a doctor in the postoperative period
- Absence of absolute, temporary and relative contraindications
- possible need to resort to additional procedures
