Why Dental Implants Become Necessary

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A dental implant procedure permits a dentist to replace a missing tooth. The dentist inserts a titanium pin that is hollowed out inside into the jawbone of a patient.

The surgical procedure then involves the placement of a metal piece that is screwed directly into the inserted pin when the patient has healed from having the pin placed. A tooth implant is positioned on the metal piece, otherwise called an abutment and dental implant procedure is completed.

So why a dental implant would be necessary? Isn’t an implant something that is simply cosmetic?

A dental implant definitely has cosmetic benefits. It can give a person a higher sense of confidence when he or she smiles, and it can also make the smile look more natural and healthy looking.

A dental implant has other benefits however that are beyond cosmetic advantages. In fact, one or more dental implants can be used as a replacement for a bridge or partial denture. Studies have been conducted and reveal that lower jawbone implants have a 95 percent five year success rate and upper jaw dental implants have a 90 percent five year success rate.

Dental implants are durable, long lasting, and strong, and they do not wiggle or move like a partial denture or bridge might move around. No adhesives are required with the use of dental implants either. Basically, this means that the use of dental implants can prove more comfortable for the patient.

There are some instances where dental implants will fail. Sometimes the bone can grow around the area of the implant. If the implant is poorly positioned it can become loose or fall out, and if a patient has inadequate oral hygiene practices, it can lead to infection.

Serious medical conditions can lead to problems with dental implants, and if the abutment loosens, the tooth implant can break or become loose and fall out as well.

Dental implants can be used for full or partial dentures so that the partials are more firmly supported as well. These dentures, identified as implant supported appliances can involve the insertion of one or more pins to which the dentures attach. In this case, such implants can range from $1250 to $3,000 per implant.

If the patient requires gum and bone restoration procedures or has serious dental issues that need to be addressed before dental implants can be put in, then the patient may face costs ranging as high as $15,000 to $30,000 or more.

Unfortunately, implants are typically not covered under dental insurance plans so the process has to be financed.