Why would you select dental implants over more traditional types of restorations?
With dental implants you don’t sacrifice the integrity of adjacent healthy teeth to bridge the space of a missing tooth.
- A tooth-supported fixed bridge requires shaving down the adjacent healthy teeth and cementing the bridge. This results in weaker tooth structure and susceptibility to tooth decay.
- Dental plaque may build up beneath the crowns resulting in gum disease and bone loss. Tooth decay leads to root canals and tooth loss.
- A tooth-supported fixed bridge only lasts five to ten years and eventually it will need to be replaced.
- With a bridge there is no replacement for the missing tooth roots, the bone beneath the bridge will continue to shrink.
Dental implants may need periodic adjustments. However, they can last a ‘lifetime’ with good oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist for x-rays and clinical exams. Dr. Doug Sinn has extensive experience in oral and maxillofacial surgery and specializes in dental implants.