Partials vs. Dental Implants in Maryland by Lynn Fugaro

Dental implants and partials are both options for replacing missing teeth. Beyond that they have almost nothing in common. A dental implant is a permanent solution that looks and feels like a natural tooth, and you treat it like a natural tooth. Partials can be made to look very natural and beautiful, but they cannot compare in comfort, durability, convenience, or function.

Partials

Partials are partial dentures. They are removable replacements for a tooth or several teeth. In some cases they are they best option, and a highly skilled cosmetic dentist can create beautiful partials, but they have significant drawbacks.

Since partials are not permanently fixed in place, they can slip and rub, causing pain. They may affect how you chew or speak. They must be removed for proper cleaning. You may not be able to enjoy all the same foods that you eat now.

Because you must remove them frequently, there is also a greater chance of losing or damaging them, or simply being seen "without your teeth in" which can be very embarrassing.

Cosmetically, partials can have a long-term affect on your appearance. It is not the partials themselves that cause the problem, but the absence of the tooth root. With the tooth root gone, you can experience gum and bone shrinkage that cause a sunken, aged look.

These changes also mean that partials must be replaced on a regular basis because they no longer fit properly.

Dental Implants

A dental implant is a titanium screw that is surgically implanted in your jawbone. It fuses with the bone, making it permanent and stable. An artificial tooth (crown) is attached to the implant.

Once the implant and crown are in place and healed, you treat them just like your natural teeth. You can eat you normal foods, and you brush and floss normally. There is no effect on how you chew or speak. You never have to worry about your implant slipping out of place causing embarrassment. It is comfortable and durable. It looks and feels so natural, you may even forget it is there.

Immediate vs. Long-Term Results

The initial time and money invested in dental implants is greater than in partials. The process for a dental implant involves oral surgery and overall can take several months. An implant costs more than your first partial, too.

However, once you implant is in place and healed, you are done. You do not have to replace it, or have subsequent procedures. You do not have to spend time daily on special care, or money on special products to care for it.

How You Can Benefit From Dental Implants by Ignacio Lopez

If you have encountered tooth loss, you may want to consider talking to your dentist about the benefits of dental implants. Implants are essentially tooth replacements, used to remedy tooth loss in a number of different circumstances.

While there are different ways to remedy extractions and other dental losses, implants have been proven to be the most effective in long term durability and patient satisfaction. Sometimes it is the only option in restoring effective chewing and other functions.

Tooth loss can come in many different forms: decay, root canal failure, gum disease, trauma to the mouth, excessive wear and tear, and congenital defects to name a few. While there are other measures which can be used to prevent these things from happening, once they have happened, your options rapidly decrease.

If you have experienced damage or loss, this can result in an immediate lowering of your self-esteem and comfort in social situations. Our smiles are very important to our overall presentation, and feeling self-conscious about opening your mouth in public can make you feel very uncomfortable.

While there are other options such as dentures and dental bridges to quickly remedy these problems, there are disadvantages to these quick fixes. An actual implant is a long-term reparative solution that you will not regret.

There are a number of different options, depending on your individual needs. A miniature single one can be used to fill the space of a missing tooth, or to supplement an existing crown.

They can also be used to supplement dentures, increase tooth stability, or reduce gum irritation. There are different factors which determine if you are a good candidate for these surgical procedures.

Talk to your dentist about your problems, and if they can be solved through this mean. Because it is a surgical procedure performed by an oral surgeon, you may qualify for a less expensive, less invasive surgery.

During the surgery, the replacement piece is rooted into the actual bone, and made to match the other teeth exactly. You may worry that it will be noticeable, but this is not the case at all.

These replacements can take anywhere from three to six months to fully bind to the bone, and heal completely. This process is called Osseointegration.

Implants are generally made of a titanium screw, used to create the initial bond with the bone, and then a crown that appropriately matches your other teeth. A pilot hole is drilled into the site of the dental loss.

This is done very carefully to avoid nerve damage within the jaw. The hole is then slowly widened, until it is the proper size for the introduction of the titanium.

Once the screw is implanted, a protective covering is placed over the top, so that it will be able to heal properly without any damage being done to the bonding site. Now is the time that Osseointegration occurs.

If you have successfully bonded after at least three months, it is now time to remove the protective cover and place a crown over the spot. A temporary crown is often used first, to allow the gums to grow and adapt around the site.

Once this has happened, the temporary site is replaced with a permanent crown, and your dental care is complete! Unfortunately, there is no 100% guarantee that this process will work for you.

Our bodies and the way they respond are so unique, that there is no telling how you will individually heal from the surgery. However, there is a 95% success rate within the lower jaw, and 90% within the upper. Most dentists will recommend that you quit smoking if you are considering an implant. Smoking can decrease the chances it will bond completely to the bone, and as result, waste your time and money.

One major benefit to an implant is that they are immune to cavities! This is a fantastic plus.

However, if you have poor oral hygiene, you may become susceptible to per-implantitis, which works the same as a degenerative gum disease. This can easily be avoided by practicing thorough brushing habits, along with regular flossing.

If you have areas of your mouth that are troubling you, talk to your dentist about the possibility of an implant today. When you think about the potential relief and benefits, what is stopping you?