Dental Implant Alternatives

When it comes time to replace a missing tooth, many people are of the belief that the only option they have is to get a tooth implanted. That is not always the case. In fact, there are a number of dental implant alternatives that you can have done instead. In this article, we will take a look at dental implant alternatives and explain what each one is.

What is a dental implant?

A dental implant is a way for you to fill the gap of your missing tooth or teeth. It is an artificial tooth that looks and feels just like a real tooth. It is anchored surgically into the jaw and positioned to look like a tooth growing naturally out of the jaw. It can hold a replacement tooth or a bridge in place depending on what you need. Implants are a great solution to tooth loss, but there are a number of other ones that you might consider.

People are off put from dental implants because of the extensive healing time. They also do not like the idea of undergoing surgery. Dental implants are also quite expensive in comparison to other procedures. What are the other dental implant alternatives? Read on to learn about them.

Dental Implant Alternatives

There are a number of different non-implant alternatives to replace your teeth, whether you need to replace one or more teeth at a time.

Tooth-supported fixed bridge

A tooth supported fixed bridge is perhaps the most popular choice among those who need to replace a single tooth. There are a few disadvantages to getting one of these opposed to getting a dental implant. Placement of a fixed bridge involves some damage by grinding away healthy teeth in order to attach the bridge to them.

Natural bone underneath a bridge is not stimulated in a way that it would be with a dental implant. This may cause it to deteriorate over time. Because of this, it could change the appearance of both your face and your smile.

A tooth-supported bridge may also last less time than an implant supported bridge. It will require more maintenance and care as well. Before you pick this option, you want to make sure you understand the implications that this could have on your face.

Removable partial dentures for single teeth

Removable partial dentures won’t need to grind down any adjacent teeth. That said, they are not nearly as comfortable and stable as a dental implant might be. This means that they might affect eating and speaking. This type of procedure works and is inexpensive but it does not offer the same natural function or appearance as a ceramic crown on an implant. Removable dentures can mean issues with your comfort and stability. They could affect your speech and eating to a point where you might feel a bit embarrassed.

It is also important to note that removable partial dentures as a dental implant alternative might change the shape of your face over time. This is because it can deteriorate the bone in your face over time and change its shape.

A resin-bonded bridge

A resin-bonded bridge is another way to replace a tooth. It is ideal for the restoration of front teeth that do not have to chew and bite like back teeth do. These bridges have wings on the sides of them that allow them to attach to healthy teeth.

Unlike other options, these bridges usually don’t require grinding down or otherwise preparing the teeth. A resin-bonded bridge looks better and functions better than a removable denture but is not as strong as fixed bridgework. It often does not last nearly as long as an implant would either.

A removable partial denture for multiple teeth

A removable partial denture is another option when you need to replace more than one tooth. It is not as stable as a dental implant but it will do the trick. These dentures can interfere with the way that you do some things like speaking and eating. For instance, they may slip when you eat, laugh or speak.

This kind of restoration does not cost as much money as some other alternatives. That said, it does not look or function as an implant-supported tooth would. Because it is not supported by the jaw like an implant, it is important to remember that there may be some deterioration of the bone which might cause it to change the way that your face and smile looks over time.

A removable complete denture

A removable complete denture sits on top of the gums where the missing teeth once were. They are a low cost choice for a dental implant. These can be uncomfortable to wear for some people and may adversely affect the taste of food. It could cause sore gums as well. When you speak, you might notice a shift in your mouth. The same goes for when you eat, yawn, smile or cough.

The replacement costs might be a bit much over time. Much like a partial denture, the bone underneath the complete denture may change and deteriorate with time. This could affect the look of your face and your smile as well. These dentures will cover a larger area of your face, making it so that you may experience a significant shift in the way that you look over time.

Overall, if you are looking for a long-term fix to your dental issues, consider an implant. While it may be more expensive, you can experience life the way it was supposed to be with comfortable laughing, eating, smiling and more. An implant is the longest-lasting option and will look and feel like your natural teeth, and it will also keep your jawbone as it should be so that your appearance does not change all that much.

Conclusion

In this article, we gave a few dental implant alternatives for you to consider. Have you gotten any of these alternatives? What is it like to live with them? Tell us about it in the comments section below.

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