Dental Implants: The Pros and Cons

As with most things in life, dental implants have their good qualities and not so good qualities.

If you’re considering implants, you want to know it all – the good, the bad and the ugly – so that you can make the best decision about whether implants are a good choice for you or not. Below we take a look at some of the pros and cons of dental implants to help you decided if they are right for you.

6 Pros For Implants

Dental Implant Look Real

For replacement teeth, you ideally want them to look as close to the real thing as possible. You don’t want people to really know you’re even wearing them. With implants, there are a number of fake teeth options you can use that look very realistic.

The Act Like Real Teeth

Not only do implants look real but they function pretty much like real teeth as well. They don’t affect the way you talk or interfere with eating or drinking. Once they’re in there, you probably won’t even notice they’re fake!

Low Maintenance

Building off the last few pros, implants look real and they function like real teeth AND they you take care of them just like you would your real teeth. These means regular brushing and flossing as well as regular trips to your dentist. No special cleaning or maintenance required.

Plenty of Options

You can choose different materials for your actual implants. You also have a number of options you can go with for the fake/replacement teeth you use with your implants. This includes crowns, dentures or bridges. If you need to replace multiple teeth, you also have different options you can use for that. Sometimes you can support 2 teeth with one implant or, in the case of All on 4, you can support all the teeth on one jaw be supported by just 4 implants.

A Permanent Choice

Some teeth replacement options last just a few years. With dental implants, you are pretty much getting a permanent option that you will not have to worry about replacing at some point in the future.

They support themselves

Implants are embedded under the gum and, often, are even fused with the jawbone. That provides all the support they need to do their job and do it well. Other tooth replacement options may require the surrounding “real” teeth for support, which can weaken those teeth over time. Which is another plus for implants.

5 Cons of Implants

The Cost

Dental implants cost a lot of money. Just one implant can cost around $4000 by the time all’s said and done. If you need to replace multiple teeth with implants, the costs can run well into the 5 figures. Insurance, in most cases, will not pay for the costs of implants so you’ll either have to pay out of pocket or find some financing or payment plan options.

It Involves Surgery

Getting dental implants involves surgery. The surgery has a very high rate of success but, as with any surgery, there may be complications that arise. For those who are not a fan of needles or anesthesia, then you have to think about whether getting implants is the right choice for you.

It Takes Time

There are such things as same day implants but, even then, getting implants truly take quite a long time. From the time the surgery is performed to the time the final, permanent replacement teeth are put in your mouth can take a solid 6 months or so.

Replacing Replacement Teeth

While your implant will likely last forever, the replacement teeth that are attached to it may not last quite that long. It’s just the nature of them that they can chip or crack or wear down over the years. So it’s likely that at some point these replacement teeth will need to be replaced.

Bone Loss

Over time, you may end up with some bone loss in the area around your implant. In cases where the bone loss is severe, then you may need to get your implant replaced.