Dental implants have long been lauded as the gold standard of tooth replacement, and when you take a closer look at just what they can do for your oral health, it’s easy to understand why they have earned this positive reputation! Simply put, they can restore your natural teeth completely in terms of look, feel, and function. However, is it ever okay to replace your existing teeth with dental implants if they’re perfectly healthy? Above all else, your natural teeth remain supreme; here’s why.
What Exactly Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are small titanium posts that are surgically placed into the jawbone, where they act as artificial tooth roots. Once healed, they support custom-made crowns, bridges, or dentures that mimic your natural teeth. They are made from biocompatible materials, such as titanium, so that they can fuse with your bone tissue safely and securely.
Dental implants can last for decades or a lifetime with the right care, and better yet, they also prevent the bone loss that is often associated with missing teeth. This, as well as a long list of other benefits, is what makes them the go-to recommended solution for patients suffering from tooth loss.
Why You Shouldn’t Replace Healthy Teeth with Implants
Dental implants are truly revolutionary, but some patients believe that they are actually better than their natural teeth—so much so that they’d consider having their original, healthy pearly whites replaced with implants.
However, this is unwise; no matter how advanced dental technology becomes, nothing can truly replace the strength, flexibility, and versatility of your natural teeth. The periodontal ligament, the structure that surrounds your tooth roots, provides sensory feedback that dental implants simply can’t reproduce. Plus, placing an implant requires surgically inserting a titanium post into the jaw and allowing it time to heal; this is unnecessary if your tooth is already healthy and stable!
It’s also important to realize that even if a tooth is chipped, worn, damaged, discolored, or otherwise compromised, it can usually be restored in terms of appearance or function without needing to be replaced—extraction and replacement is viewed as a last resort by dentists.
This all goes to say that, as great as dental implants are, you should still prioritize your natural pearly whites and take care of them. If the need arises in the future where one or more do need to be replaced, though, dental implants are going to be your absolute best option.
About the Practice
Our team here at Lillington Dental Care has served the dental needs of those in Lillington for several years under the talented leadership of Dr. Daniel G. Butler. We proudly offer a wide range of services, including dental implants placed right here in our office. If you have any questions about the blog, or if you’d like to get in touch with our team to schedule an appointment for yourself or a loved one, please feel free to reach out online or call today for more information or assistance. Telephone: (910) 893-4977.