Will Dental Implants Last and Are They Worth the Cost?

If you’ve recently lost a tooth and are looking to improve your smile, or are frustrated by your dentures, then we may have suggested dental implants at Chesterfield as one of your options for tooth replacement during your last visit. However, there’s no doubt that a dental implant is the most expensive way to replace your missing tooth. So why not settle for the cheaper option of a denture or bridge work to fill the gap instead? Let’s take a look at some of the advantages of dental implants and how they might just be the solution you are looking for.

Why do dental implants cost more?

There are in fact a number of reasons. Firstly, having a dental implant is a much bigger procedure, so it requires a lot more planning and visits; but there are also other factors to take into consideration such as:

• X-rays and CT Scans which are required for thorough treatment planning
• The number of implants being placed
• Laboratory costs for the crown/bridge that will fit into the implant
• Other pre-procedures such as bone grafting, and…
• The cost of the actual titanium implant itself

How long do dental implants last?

Just like your natural teeth this depends largely on how you treat them. If you look after your implants well, then by having a good oral hygiene routine along with regular dental check-ups every 6 months, there’s no reason why the actual implant itself shouldn’t last a lifetime. The porcelain crown that is placed on top of the implant (the part that you see in your mouth) has an average life expectancy of between 10-15 years, again depending on how well it is cared for.

That said, there are factors that could pose a problem with the longevity of an implant. This could be due to various health problems which are unavoidable, such as diabetes. Your Chesterfield implant dentist Dr Akinwande will always run though any complications you can expect due to your medical history or lifestyle before you consider dental implants.

So, is the extra cost worth it?

We’ll leave the decision to you, but keep these few points in mind:

• This method of tooth replacement really is the gold standard and has a very high rate of success.

• Dental implants can give you back your confidence. You never have to worry about your teeth slipping or falling out or possibly affecting your speech.

• Unlike with dentures, patients don’t have to be careful when eating certain foods. Instead they can eat what they like.

• They look and feel more like your natural teeth and they also maintain your jaw density, just as your natural roots would. So no more jaw shrinkage

• Finally, a dental implant doesn’t affect your oral health because they are very easy to clean and unlike a conventional bridge, placement doesn’t involve damaging healthy adjacent teeth by grinding them down.

If you think that a dental implant might be an option for you, then come and book in for an appointment to see Dr Akinwande our implant dentist at Chesterfield. Contact us on (314) 469 6429 to find out more.