Dental implant posts act as a sort of artificial tooth root. Since the post is fabricated from biocompatible materials (commonly commercially pure titanium), jawbone tissue actually fuses with the implant post in a process called osseointegration. It’s this osseointegration process that gives dental implants the stability necessary to perform like real teeth.

Dental implants actually help preserve the health of the jawbone by stimulating the bone tissue in a way similar to natural tooth roots. A healthy, full jawbone helps reduce visible signs of aging, such as wrinkles around the mouth and collapsed smile. Many denture-wearers encounter issues with resorption, which is when the jawbone actually loses volume due to under-stimulation, which can cause dentures to feel loose over time.

Dental implants allow patients to once again smile confidently and enjoy favorite foods. Dental implants are truly life-changing. Once you read through the top 5 benefits of dental implants, you should have a better understanding of why many clinicians and patients call them the “next-best thing to natural teeth.”

#1. Dental implants boost confidence.

If you are missing some or all of your natural teeth, you may feel self-conscious about smiling, laughing, meeting new people, and carrying on conversations. Dental implants help patients boost their self-esteem and confidence in social situations.

#2. Implants function like real teeth.

Many denture-wearers complain that dentures simply do not have the feel, stability, and function of natural teeth. With dental implants, you can say goodbye to the slipping, clacking, and gum soreness that are so common with full dentures.

#3. Implants assist with speech.

Those who wear dentures or are missing teeth notice that certain words and sounds become difficult to pronounce — especially words with f’s and s’s. Restorations with dental implants help make speech feel natural again.

#4. Preserve oral and jawbone health.

Jawbones require regular stimulation in order to prevent jawbone erosion (resorption). Dentures and partials do not offer the kind of stimulation necessary to continuously remineralize the jawbone. In fact, missing just one tooth can cause other teeth to drift out of place, leading to additional tooth loss.

#5. You can enjoy your favorite foods!

With dental implants, you can finally enjoy all the foods that have been off limits to you, such as steak, nuts, and fruit. A wider dietary palate can also positively influence your overall health. Implants can also help your waistline; dental implants allow you to chew foods more thoroughly, which helps you feel fuller faster and also aids in digestion.

The All-on-4® treatment concept can be a great option for those missing all of their natural teeth within an arch. As the name suggests, All-on-4 can support a fixed full-arch bridge on just four dental implants. Since only four implants are typically required, this treatment method is seen as a cost-effective, attractive way to replace a full arch of teeth.

What’s great about the All-on-4® treatment concept is that many cases are immediate loading, which means you can have a new, functional smile in just one day.

When a patient opts for the All-on-4® treatment concept, as few as four implants are strategically implanted into the jawbone. These are then fitted with multi-unit abutments that are then attached to a fixed implant bridge. The result? A beautiful, functional smile in just one day!

Unlike dentures and other prostheses, dental implants can actually last the rest of your life so long as you attend regular checkups and take care to maintain your restorations.

The success rate of dental implants is approaching 98%. The procedure, the materials used, and even the surface coatings and roughness of implants have made dental implants one of the most reliable and predictable types of restorations.

Whether you are missing a single tooth or all of your natural teeth, there are a wide range of options available when it comes to tooth replacement. While dental implants excel in virtually every category, they usually come with a higher cost.

In this section we highlight the pros and cons of the most popular tooth replacement options based on price, appearance, comfort, and longevity.

Price. The only major downside to dental implants is the cost factor. According to the Consumer Guide to Dentistry, dental implants can cost upwards of $2,800 to $3,500 per tooth, which can make them prohibitively expensive for many patients. Dental insurance can be helpful with the cost of extractions and other care, but they may only cover half the cost of dental implants, according to insurance data. If you are looking to replace both the top and bottom rows of teeth you may be looking at paying anywhere from $20,000 to $30,000 (or more).

In contrast, it may only cost around $1,000 to replace a single tooth with a removable partial denture or dental bridge.

With low-cost, cold-cured dentures, you can expect to pay around $1,000 for a complete set (upper and lower). However, for a premium set of heat-cured dentures crafted from the best materials available you may be looking at spending upwards of $8,000. When you consider that dentures need to be replaced every 7 years, by the time a patient replaces one or two sets of dentures, they are already approaching the cost of dental implants.

Longevity. Data from the Cleveland Clinic suggests dental bridges typically last 5 to 7 years before they need to be replaced. Dentures have a similar lifespan; due to changes in jaw structure, the American Dental Association recommends replacing full dentures every 5 to 7 years. Dental implants are designed to last a lifetime. Real-world data suggests that the average lifespan of dental implants is 25 years. Although, the technology has advanced tremendously over the last decade, so that 25-year figure is expected to increase.

Feel and function. One thing we’ve always heard from denture-wearers is that full dentures never completely feel natural; patients are always aware of a foreign object in their mouth. Since dentures have limited biting function, patients are often locked into a soft food diet, which means many hard, sticky, and chewy foods are off limits. Those with bridges are also advised to avoid chewing sticky and tough foods on the restoration-side of the mouth. How do dental implants compare in terms of feel and function? Since dental implants are surgically embedded into the jawbone, you will not have the shifting, slipping, and “clacking,” that are so common with traditional dentures. Functionally, dental implants work in much the same way as natural teeth, allowing you to enjoy all your favorite foods and speak naturally. One note-worthy difference between implants and natural teeth is feeling; since dental implants obviously do not have nerves and blood vessels, you will not experience the same sensations of pressure and temperature changes in the teeth.

Appearance. Patients aren’t just looking for a smile that is functional and long-lasting; they also want a restoration that looks natural, too. Dentures, while they are designed to replicate the appearance of natural teeth, are typically easy to differentiate from natural teeth; the acrylic gum material often darkens over time. While dentures can look great, the acrylic resin material (especially on cheaper dentures) does give them an artificial appearance. Here’s some good news. Since dental implant-supported crowns and bridges are crafted from porcelain or zirconia, it is unlikely anyone will be able to tell you are wearing a dental prosthesis. In fact, when single or multiple teeth are replaced with implants, it’s not uncommon for patients to forget which tooth is natural and which is the restoration!

Comfort. The most common complaint of non-fixed prostheses is that they are uncomfortable to wear for extended periods. Since dentures rest on the gums, they are constantly rubbing against gingival tissue and the inside of the mouth, which can lead to irritation and painful inflammation. In contrast, dental implants are supported by the jawbone, not the gums. This means that dental implants should feel as normal and comfortable as natural teeth.