We hear all the time that if you’re going to have to replace a tooth, dental implants are the best option. That is true. There’s a two-fold reason for this. The first has to do with
Even the best fitting dentures will reduce your chewing capacity by 50%. Not to mention they move and food gets under them. With anchored implants, none of that is a problem. It’s like having healthy, natural teeth again.
The second reason is more medical. Having an implanted root preserves your jawbone. Without that, your jawbone begins to shrink, not only aging you in appearance but eventually making you a dental cripple unable to eat solid foods without bone grafting surgery.
Reasons Some Can’t Have Dental Implants
Despite them being the best option, sometimes the ideal isn’t possible. Here are some reasons you may not be a candidate for dental implants:
- You’ve had a recent heart attack or stroke
- You’re currently being treated for cancer
- You have immunosuppression issues
- You’ve had valvular prosthesis surgery
- Specific psychiatric conditions
- Drug addiction
- Untreated Gum Disease
- Need a low-cost replacement
While it can be discouraging to not get the best treatment. It doesn’t mean you can’t get a good one.
Options to Dental Implants
If you’re talking about a single tooth, a dental bridge is always a great second choice. Unlike removable partial dentures, these are securely bonded and won’t move around.
Maybe you need a lot of dental implants and just can’t afford them. In that case, you could look into implant overdentures. This uses four to six dental implants and anchors your dentures to them.
Dentures are a third option, whether full or partial. These are often used as a temporary solution while the patient heals from an illness which knocked them out of implant candidacy, or while they save up for the better option.
No matter what, the key is good communication with your dentist.
This blog is brought to you by Baton Rouge Dentist Dr. Steven Collins.