If you’ve lost a tooth or facing tooth extraction, you may be wondering “do I need a dental implant?”
The most common reasons for losing teeth are gum disease, tooth decay, and poor oral hygiene and in the majority of cases, your dentist is likely to recommend replacing missing teeth with dental implants.
Unlike other tooth-replacement methods, the dental implant procedure replaces both the missing tooth and the root. Implants are placed into the jaw bone when a person undergoes dental implant surgery. Without replacing a missing tooth, a domino effect is triggered where the adjacent teeth start to shift position to close the gap.
Over time, this can cause a dramatic change in the overall dynamic of your mouth and teeth. Teeth start to misalign and this has the knock-on effect of causing issues with your bite which will remain with you for the rest of your life.
Are dental implants necessary?
If you don’t want to wear dentures or have a bridge fitted, then the answer to your question “do I need a dental implant” is, yes, getting dental implants is a necessity.
If you don’t replace missing teeth, the consequences can be severe.
Aside from getting dental implants to replace missing teeth, it’s also necessary for aesthetic reasons. Dental implants play a huge role in the functionality of the mouth. They keep teeth in the right position, support a healthy bite, and help prevent bone deterioration. Plus the chewing action helps preserve the jawbone by applying pressure and stimulation.
Dental implants are also necessary from a beauty point of view. Since they are incredibly life-like, a person is less likely to feel self-conscious about their smile. Dental implants also give a person the confidence to socialise and eat in public.
What happens if dental implants are not utilised?
Some people question whether it’s really necessary to replace a missing tooth with a dental implant. Others wonder how long they can put off getting dental implants. Mostly these questions come from fear of the dental implant procedure and worries about the cost of dental implant surgery.
Unfortunately, most people don’t realise that waiting or turning down implants can severely affect their oral health. This lack of knowledge causes people to wait too long to complete the dental implant procedure.
When you forgo or put off dental implant surgery you do so at your risk. It’s been proven to adversely affect a person’s oral health, their body’s health, and their wallet. Typically, delaying dental implant surgery or forgoing it, causes an increase in necessary dental work.
What are the long-term effects of not getting dental implants?
All sorts of things can go wrong if you decide not to have implants or delay dental implant surgery. When a tooth warrants pulling, it needs to be removed or it can cause damage to the adjacent teeth. Any dentist will tell you that delaying or forgoing practically any type of dental procedure can cause issues and/or damage later in life.
Bone loss
For example, when a tooth is lost, the bone that was holding it in place starts to deteriorate or atrophy. This causes a decrease both in height and density. This means that you are likely to need a bone graft in addition to an implant. Getting a bone graft will mean more surgery and will certainly be more expensive than just one simple dental implant.
Shifting teeth
Tooth position can also be affected by delaying the dental implant procedure. Like bricks in a wall, your teeth all work together as a group supporting each other. If one tooth is missing, other teeth can start shifting.
Teeth toward the rear of your mouth may also lean forward into the gap. This means that when you do decide to undergo dental implant surgery, there may not be sufficient room. Also, if an opposing tooth is missing a partner, it may become dislodged from the arch and cause an issue with your bite.
Shifting teeth happens slowly so you may not notice it at first. However, the truth of the matter is that it begins the moment a person has a missing tooth. Problems can also beset opposing teeth because they have nothing to come into contact with. As a result they can often become misaligned. This may mean that a person often needs some form of orthodontic work, whether this is aligners, braces, or an anchorage device to make room for the implant.
Wear and tear
Aside from bone loss and shifting teeth, you may also find that you accidentally bite your cheeks and tongue more. While this doesn’t sound like a big deal it can be a pain when you’re trying to eat. It’s also possible for a person to find that they start eating mainly on the side of the mouth that isn’t missing a tooth. This in turn can cause additional wear and tear.
So, Do I Need a Dental Implant?
Getting dental implants is an investment in you – your confidence, appearance, and oral health. While you may be concerned about the cost of dental implant surgery and the time it takes to complete the dental implant procedure, most patients find that when they look at the bigger picture, implants are extremely cost-effective. In fact, it’s more expensive in most cases to put off dental implant surgery altogether.
Here at No Gaps Dental, our dentists are highly experienced in dental implant surgery and use the latest technologies and techniques for the best results. Call at (02) 8806 0227 today.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks.