If you are one of the 35 million Americans missing all their teeth in one or both jaws, dental implants can give you the closest thing to your real teeth. Dentures have long been the standard treatment for excessive tooth loss, but today, 3 million people have dental implants, and that number is growing by 500,000 a year, according to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry.
Why are more and more turning to implant-supported dentures vs. traditional dentures? These five reasons will have you booking treatment today!
Missing teeth can adversely affect self-esteem, self-concept and self-confidence. Teeth shape the way we talk and sound. Without teeth, speaking issues arise and your normal facial appearance alters. All these factors can feel insurmountable, but that’s where advances in dental technology can change your life.
Titanium-supported implants provide the stability and strength of natural teeth. This means no more messy denture adhesives or ill-fitting artificial teeth. Your implant-supported dentures are customized just for you and your mouth. No more worrying about dentures slipping and affecting your speech or appearance. Prosthetic teeth also look just like your natural teeth, so you can smile and act with confidence.
Ill-fitted dentures or bridges don’t just allow bone loss and gum irritation — they can speed it up. Improper alignment and biting down irritates your gums and your bones, leading to increased bone loss and gum inflammation. Implant-supported dentures fit securely in place and enable the proper distribution of bite forces. This proper distribution allows gums and bones to stay stimulated, but protected when you bite or chew.
Losing one or more of your teeth not only changes your smile, but it also diminishes your ability to chew properly and digest normally. Implant-supported dentures create a stronger biting force than traditional dentures, according to a study by the National Institutes of Health. This means you can once again enjoy those hard, crunchy foods you eliminated from your diet. The freedom to eat what you want (and need) to eat is a basic human freedom that the All-on-4® implant method provides you.
When food is chewed properly, your body is able to extract all the nutrients it needs during the digestion process. However, when you are unable to sufficiently chew your food because of tooth loss, your stomach has to work harder, and that can affect how you absorb what you eat, according to Forbes.com.
The loss of permanent teeth usually results in the deterioration of the supporting bone. Bone loss is ongoing for patients with traditional dentures or even partial bridges. In the past, many people were not candidates for implants because they already experienced too much bone loss.
Today, the All-on-4® dental implant technique requires less bone for treatment success, meaning very few won’t qualify for treatment, reports the U.S. News and World Report. In fact, once completed, dental implants actually slow further bone loss. Your teeth influence how you chew and process food, but they also impact the strength of your jawbone and surrounding teeth. Implant-supported teeth allow you to apply normal bite forces that stimulate your jawbone and guard against future bone loss, according to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry.
All-on-4® technology techniques offers patients a same-day procedure with shorter healing times and enhanced aesthetics and functionality. What makes this so great? Traditional dental implant placement involves two separate surgeries with several months of recovery time. Using only four implant posts, experienced dental providers can restore full form and function to your smile in one appointment. The result? A permanent set of teeth reinforced with a titanium support system for long-lasting, durable wear.