Are Dental Implants Really the Gold Standard of Tooth Replacement?

If you’ve been looking into replacing missing teeth, you’ve probably heard a lot about the merits of dental implants. They’re often recommended by dentists, so much so that many people refer to them as the “gold standard” of tooth replacement.

There’s plenty of talk about dental implants, but how good are they really? Are they actually the best tooth replacement that dentistry has to offer? If you’re curious, here are some reasons why some dentists believe that.

Dental Implants Are Reliable

When dealing with tooth loss patients, dentists often work with someone who has ongoing oral health problems, or who is in the process of recovering from them. As a result, dentists want something that is reliable, and that succeeds often for people in this position.

Studies show that over 95% of dental implants are successful at 20 years, with many of them lasting as long as 30 with proper maintenance. That high success rate and remarkable durability are unmatched among other tooth replacement options, most of which tend to last for around 10 years.

Dental Implants are Strong

Among tooth replacement options, dental implants are unique in that they are placed directly into the jaw. This means that, unlike dentures, dental implants can bite and chew food almost as effectively as your natural teeth can.

If you’ve been missing teeth for a long time, you might not be enjoying food quite as much as you could be. Dental implants are unique in their ability to give that power back to patients.

Dental Implants Look Great!

Most prosthetics, like dentures and bridges, sit on top of the gums. This can produce great-looking results, but that isn’t how your actual teeth fit in your mouth. Dental implants are actually in your jaw, meaning that they can look much more realistic.

Other prosthetics also don’t use the jawbone at all, which can lead to atrophy in the jawbone over time. This can make your jaw shrink which, among other things, can have serious negative consequences on appearance. Dental implants stimulate the jaw, preventing bone loss that may be associated with other tooth replacement options.

Now maybe you can see what those dentists were talking about. Dental implants are an incredible tooth replacement option, worthy of the title “the gold standard of tooth replacement.”

About the Author

Dr. Jonathan Aguilar is a DFW native that feels enormously privileged to be able to help members of his community get strong, healthy smiles! When he walks into the office each day, there’s nothing he loves more than being able to get to know his patients as individuals. Dr. Aguilar received his dental degree from the Texas A&M Health Science Center Baylor College of Dentistry, and he has spent years working as a dentist in a wide variety of contexts.

If you have any questions about dental implants, he can be reached at his website or by phone at (940) 566-5332.