Benefits of Dental Implants

Dr. Lunagaria will explain the benefits of dental implants during a consultation.

The most lifelike and durable tooth replacement option

• Who Are Candidates for Dental Implants?
• Benefits of Dental Implants
• Implants vs. Dentures
• Implants vs. Dental Bridges

What is a Dental Implant?

A dental implant is a titanium post that is anchored into the jaw to replace a missing tooth root. A connecting piece called an abutment is placed on top of the implant and acts as the attachment point for a dental crown, a dental bridge or a denture.

The jaw bone around the inserted implant fuses (integrates) with the implant surfaces and securely anchors the implant in place. The integrated implant is then as strong as a regular tooth root.

Expert dental implant treatment

Dr. Lunagaria has extensive training and experience in minimally invasive dental implant procedures. He has placed hundreds of implants and holds Fellowships in both the American Dental Implant Association and the International Congress of Oral implantology. He is able to help most people enjoy the many benefits dental implants offer.

Who are candidates for Dental Implants?

Most people can now receive dental implants due to major advances in technology. In the past, patients with too much bone loss around the missing tooth could not receive implants, but modern bone grafting techniques can restore lost bone and provide the needed support for implants to be stably placed.

Even people with health problems that before made implant placement too risky can now receive dental implants. This includes people with diabetes, heart disease or who are heavy smokers. If you are determined eligible after initial examination, Dr. Lunagaria can work in coordination with your physician as needed to ensure success.

Benefits and advantages of Dental Implants

Dental implants have many benefits and advantages which make them the gold standard for tooth replacement.

Dental Implants function like regular teeth

Once a dental implant is completely fused with the supporting jawbone, it has the strength of a natural tooth root and functions just like a normal tooth. Your new implant tooth will have the same biting and chewing power as a regular tooth and you can easily eat all the foods you need for good nutrition. You can also brush and floss your implant teeth just like you would with any other teeth.

Dental implants prevent bone loss

The pressure from chewing and biting is needed to preserve the volume and density of bone around your teeth. This pressure is missing when teeth are lost, and 25% of the surrounding bone dissolves away in the first year alone. Implants provide the stimulation necessary to preserve the bone structure.

The type of pressure exerted by dentures actually accelerates bone loss in the jaw. Dentures supported by implants, however, place the pressure on the implants and thus maintain the jawbone volume.

Dental implants keep adjacent teeth stable

The gap left by a missing tooth can cause the adjacent teeth to shift position. This destabilizes those teeth and can alter your bite and ability to chew. A dental implant-supported tooth holds the adjacent teeth stably in position.

Dental implants help prevent gum disease

Bacteria can accumulate in the gaps left by missing teeth and around the teeth next to the gap. Implant-supported teeth fill in this gap and can prevent gum disease from occurring in that space.

Dental Implants can last a lifetime

Dental implants are made out of titanium, a non-corrosive, long-lasting bio-compatible metal. They can last a lifetime if properly cared for with effective home oral care and regular hygiene maintenance cleanings at our dental office.

Dental implants can prevent facial collapse and premature aging

For people who have lost most or all of their teeth, progressive bone loss stemming from those missing teeth causes the height between the nose and the chin to diminish and the lower third of their face to collapse. This causes excess wrinkles around their mouth, drooping jowls and sagging skin. Additionally, their lips become thinner and their chin becomes pointed, making them look much older than their true age.

Since dental implants can prevent bone loss by providing the biting and chewing pressure needed to preserve bone volume, they can also prevent facial sagging and collapse for those people who have lost their teeth, including denture wearers.

Dental implants vs. dentures

Dental implants and implant-supported dentures provide a far superior experience than regular dentures for a number of reasons. If you are deciding between regular dentures and an implant-supported full-arch set of new teeth, here are some things to consider.

• Dentures have only 10% of normal chewing power, making it very hard to eat the foods you need for proper nutrition. Implant-supported removable dentures that snap onto the implants increase the chewing power to near half of regular teeth, and implant-supported dentures that are fixed onto the implants increase chewing power to nearly that of regular teeth.
• Dentures don't provide the stimulation needed to prevent bone loss in the jaw or facial collapse.In fact, the pressure from regular dentures accelerates bone loss and eventually leads to facial collapse. With implant-supported dentures, the chewing pressure is provided through the implants and the jaw bone structure receives the stimulation necessary to maintain its volume and density.
• Dentures have a false palate that covers the roof of your mouth and severely dulls your sense of taste.Implant-supported fixed-in dentures do not have the false palate.
• Dentures can slip out while eating or speaking or eating.Implant-supported dentures are securely anchored and will not slip out.
• Dentures click while eating. Implant-supported dentures are secured onto the implants and will not click.
• Dentures have to be removed to be cleaned. Implant-supported fixed-in dentures can be brushed and flossed like regular teeth as they are anchored onto the implants and cannot be removed except by a dentist.
• Dentures often need to be kept in place with a dental adhesive.No such adhesives are necessary with implant-supported dentures.

Dental implants vs. Dental Bridges

A dental bridge consists of a string of prosthetic teeth used to replace one or two missing teeth. However, a dental bridge involves the grinding down of the adjacent teeth on either side of the missing tooth for the bridge to be placed. This weakens the adjacent teeth and can lead to complications over time.

Dental implants do not require alteration of the patient's other healthy teeth. Implant-supported teeth can last a lifetime with regular care and are the strongest and most lifelike tooth replacement option.

To make an appointment, call us at (908) 359-6655 or click here to request an appointment online.

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