When you lose a tooth, you are rapidly introduced to the wide world of tooth replacement options. The three most common are dental bridges, dentures, and dental implants, with the latter standing out among them as one of the most celebrated ways to replace a tooth that you’ve lost.
Many patients looking to replace a tooth as quickly as possible go for a bridge or denture, but later become interested in what dental implants have to offer. If that’s you, here’s what you should know about the prospect of replacing your current restoration with an implant upgrade.
Is it Possible to Attach My Restoration to a Dental Implant?
The answer is that yes, it is possible to replace whatever method of tooth replacement you have now with a dental implant. The ease of this process, however, depends on a few factors.
For one, it depends on what kinds of restoration you have. As strange as it may sound, attaching full dentures to implants is fairly simple, and is common for people who have had them long enough. It’s also possible to replace a dental bridge, though as you remember, enamel is removed from the teeth to put the dental bridge in place. These teeth will need to be protected or removed in order for replacing it with an implant to be possible.
You will also need to talk to your dentist about whether you have enough bone density to support a dental implant, as it’s common for people with other kinds of restorations to see their jaws degrade over time. If yours has, you may need to get a bone graft before you get your implant.
Reasons to Upgrade to a Dental Implant
There are quite a few reasons why upgrading a dental implant could be a good move if you’re looking to replace missing teeth. For example:
- Stimulates the jawbone in order to help you maintain bone density
- Allows for greater biting force when eating.
- Makes for easier cleaning.
- Much greater longevity than what you can get with other kinds of implants.
About Our Practice
At Elevate Dental, we pride ourselves on making use of the latest in dental technology in order to ensure that the time that you spend with us is as productive as it can be. From our high-tech intraoral cameras and scanners to the HDTVs we have in every operatory, we have everything that you could need to get your oral heath in perfect order.
If you have any questions about dental implants, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (802) 658-4873.