Choosing Dental Implants vs. Other Teeth Replacement Options
Are you ready to do something about your missing or failing teeth but feeling a bit overwhelmed by the multitude of teeth replacement options to choose from? When you consider that nearly 180 million Americans have at least one missing tooth and an estimated 40 million have no natural teeth at all, it’s not surprising that modern dentistry has come up with solutions ranging from removable dentures to permanent dental implants, with many options in between.
Dental implants have been growing in popularity in recent years, thanks largely to their ability to mimic the appearance and function of natural teeth better than any other type of tooth prosthetic. In fact, the American Academy of Implant Dentistry estimates that more than 3 million people in the United States have dental implants, and that number is growing by about a half-million every year.
At New Teeth Now, where our highly experienced oral surgeons specialize in full arch and full mouth dental implants, we get to hear firsthand on a daily basis why people from all walks of life choose our implants over other solutions for their tooth loss. We’re delighted to share those insights in this article. But first, let’s discuss what we mean when we refer to dental implants at New Teeth Now.
Dental implants – the gold standard in tooth replacement
Dental implants are rods that are placed in a patient’s gums and jawbone to hold an artificial tooth, thus replacing the natural tooth root. At New Teeth Now, the implants we place are made of titanium, a material that is ultra-tough and bonds well with human bone. We also take pride in crafting durable, natural-looking teeth that our patients are proud to display whenever they speak and smile.
A person who needs one replacement tooth may benefit from receiving a single dental implant. However, when a patient has a significant number of missing or failing teeth in one or both arches, it often makes sense to replace all of the upper or lower teeth – or even all the teeth in the patient’s mouth – with dental implants and artificial teeth. This type of dental replacement is known as “full arch” or “full mouth” dental restoration. It requires a customized approach that includes expert evaluation of the patient’s jawbone to determine, among other things, how many implants will be needed to hold the new teeth in place.
Some dental implant providers offer a standardized approach called “All-on-4®,” which means every patient will receive four implants per jaw. After decades of experience with dental implants, the oral surgeons at New Teeth Now recognize that many patients need more than four implants to get the best fit and long-lasting results. That’s why our surgeons use the latest technology to carefully evaluate each patient’s oral health and jaw structure to develop a custom treatment plan that includes the ideal number and placement of implants to ensure optimal results. This is one of many ways that New Teeth Now stands apart from other dental implant providers.
Dental implants are considered the gold standard among tooth replacement options because, combined with high-quality tooth prosthetics, they look, function and feel like natural teeth. What’s more, unlike traditional dentures and other alternatives, they’re designed to last a lifetime.
Benefits provided by full mouth dental implants
Beautiful results are undoubtedly the top reason our patients select dental implants instead of other options that may be available. You have only to scroll through our many testimonials to hear how our services have bettered the lives of our patients, allowing them to confidently smile, dine and converse with others after years of hiding their teeth.
As important as that is, though, there are many additional advantages to getting full mouth dental implants. Below is a partial list:
A one-and-done solution
When you opt for high-quality dental implants and properly care for them with a simple oral hygiene routine, you can expect your new teeth to last a lifetime. Contrast this to traditional dentures, which must be refitted periodically to accommodate changes due to aging, or dental bridges, which are typically designed to last five to 15 years.
The longevity of our dental implants was a big part of the appeal for Kim, a resident of The Villages, Florida. When she turned to New Teeth Now, she was self-conscious about her smile after many years of struggling with periodontal disease that led to missing teeth.
“I knew that I had to research and come up with a permanent solution,” she said. “I wasn’t going to fool around anymore. I didn’t want partials. I didn’t want bridges.”
Both she and her husband, Richard, were happy with the results.
“Her teeth look fabulous. They’re permanent in her mouth,” Richard said, noting that his wife “smiles bigger now than she was smiling before.”
More comfortable than other options
If you’re like many people with failing teeth, you don’t want to deal with the discomfort of ill-fitting dentures or other dental appliances, or worry that they’ll slip and cause you embarrassment while you’re eating or talking with others. Dental implants are a superior choice because, as a permanently fixed prosthetic, they function like natural teeth. Moreover, they don’t have be taken out at night and placed in a cleaning solution the way removable dentures do.
Better for oral health and youthful good looks
Did you know that replacing missing teeth with dental implants can help prevent the appearance of premature aging caused by facial bone loss? This is because dental implants replace the chewing action of natural teeth, which stimulates the body to rejuvenate the jawbone with new cells. When teeth have been missing for a while, the body will stop replacing those cells, leading to jawbone shrinkage in the lower face that can make people look older than they are.
Dental implants are the only teeth replacement solution that replaces the bone-stimulating function of the tooth root as well as the visible tooth above the gum line.
Possible for even severe cases
The patients we see at New Teeth Now typically have extensive tooth loss or decay in one or both jaws. Due to the severity of their tooth loss, they may not be eligible for replacement options such as dentures or fixed bridges. They may even have been told by other dental implant providers that they’re not eligible for implants because of bone loss – that is, their jawbone has shrunk due to the effects of their long-term tooth decay. Or they may have been told they’ll have to undergo a lengthy and costly procedure such as bone grafting before they can receive dental implants.
This is almost never the case at New Teeth Now. Our oral surgeons have many years of experience successfully treating severe and highly complex cases without the need for bone grafting. For example, patients whose upper jaw is too diminished to support implants typically benefit from our expertise in placing zygomatic implants – a type of implant that’s anchored in the cheekbone instead of the jawbone.
Convenient, with all dental implant services under one roof
At New Teeth Now, we understand how busy people are, and we recognize that they don’t want to visit our clinic any more often than necessary. During our many years of providing dental restoration services, we’ve developed a streamlined approach to full mouth dental implantation. The key to this approach is having all services available under one roof, including:
- Consultations that provide thorough answers to patient questions and typically include imaging services on site at our clinic
- An in-house dental lab and well-qualified restorative dentists on staff, so that patients can confer with experts to get exactly the look they want for their new teeth in less time than with other providers who rely on third-party labs
- A dental implantation team that includes certified anesthetists as well as oral surgeons who ensure patient safety during a pain-free procedure that includes tooth extraction and the placement of dental implants and high-quality, temporary replacement teeth, all in one day
Cost-effective in the long run
Many of our patients, including Amanda of Lakeland, Florida, turn to us after spending precious time and money on dental solutions that don’t last. Amanda said she spent about $28,000 on her mouth, “and all of the dental work had failed before coming to New Teeth Now.”
After receiving dental implants from our clinic, she said, “I’ve been able to feel like I really do have my life back.”
Although the cost of full mouth dental implants may seem higher than other options at first glance, it’s important to consider that dental implants are designed to be permanent solutions. With proper care, you won’t have to replace them every five to 10 years.
Additionally, maintaining dental implants is similar to the oral hygiene required to keep natural teeth healthy. You won’t have to shell out money every month for special denture cleansers and adhesives.
Learn more about dental implants at New Teeth Now
The best way to find out whether full mouth or full arch dental implants are the right choice for you is to book a consultation at one of our locations in Florida or California. Contact New Teeth Now today to get started.
