Dental implants are a trusted treatment in modern dentistry, there’s no two-ways about it. Tooth replacement has been popular, or at least around, since 600AD and the Mayans. It was 1952 that brought us the titanium root, and today they have honed and crafted to resemble natural-looking and colour-matched teeth. Take it from us that dental implants are a great weapon to wield in the war against missing teeth, but are dental implants worth it?

Are dental implants worth it?

Missing teeth are more than just gaps in your smile, though this would be a valid reason alone to replace them, but they actually have a variety of health benefits. Dental implants are definitely worth it if you’re seeking to prolong your dental health and jaw strength…

Dental implants protect your neighbouring teeth against cavities. When you lose a tooth, it exposes surfaces of your neighbouring teeth that were previously protected. These irregular gaps can be difficult to clean, and they increase the surface area of hard-to-reach places, meaning that plaque and bacteria can quickly build-up in the area. Because they’re difficult to clean properly, these exposed surfaces could develop cavities and decay, threatening the health of your neighbouring teeth. If you don’t want to run the risk of losing more teeth to decay, then dental implants are definitely worth it.

Dental implants protect you from gum disease. Missing teeth don’t just expose your neighbouring teeth, but they also leave an area of your gums distinctly vacant and open. Bacteria and sugars build-up on the gum line of your neighbouring teeth, irritating them and increasing your risk of developing gum disease. Because these places are difficult to brush and floss, the bacteria manifest and inflame your gums. They could become red, swollen, puffy, very sore, and even bleed when brushing or eating. Gum disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss, so if you want to side-step losing further teeth then we’d definitely recommend replacing your missing tooth.

Dental implants keep your jaw strong. Your teeth and your jaw bone enjoy a symbiotic relationship, with your tooth taking strength from your jaw and vice versa. Your tooth root anchors itself in the jaw bone and essentially tells your jaw that that part of it is still needed. When you lose a tooth and the root dies, that part of your jaw bone stops receiving signals from the absent tooth and assumes its strength and stability isn’t needed. The bone begins to weaken and soften, affecting the rest of your jaw and creating the unattractive ‘caved in’ hollow look. When you replace a tooth with a dental implant, the root is replaced with one of titanium. This is because the metal invites the bone to heal around and fuse with it, creating a solid foundation for your crown and keeping your jaw bone nice and healthy. Dental implants are definitely worth it if you’re seeking to keep your jaw bone in good health!

How long does a dental implant last?

For a lot of patients, dental implants represent a significant investment in time and money so it’s important that they are cost-effective. If you class a dental implant as ‘worth it’ based on how long it lasts, then you’re in luck. With the proper care, your dental implant could last you the rest of your life. Even when we say, ‘proper care’, we mean attentive brushing twice a day and flossing once a day. There is no special care or products needed to clean your dental implant, but it will last as long as your regular cleaning habits do. Our craftsmanship comes with a 5-year guarantee as long as you follow our advice, so you could be enjoying your dental implants for a long time to come.

Whether dental implants are worth it depends on the patient, but with regards to your continued dental health and jaw strength, we’d always say they were. If you’d like to talk about your suitability for dental implants in York and discuss our finance options, enquire online or speak to a friendly member of staff on 01904 653356 today.