Dental implants are designed to mimic the way a tooth looks and functions. Compared to other tooth replacement treatments, including dentures and bridges, a dental implant more accurately replaces the lost tooth or teeth. This is because dental implants actually replace the entirety of the lost structure of a tooth. This has many positive effects, but overall, this means that your replacement is actually going to look and feel more like a real tooth. Here at Dr. Emma Wu and Associates, we are experts in helping patients reconstruct their smiles with both single implants and full arch implant-supported dentures. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of implants, or contact us for a consultation at our office.
Dental implants are designed to be long-term dental solutions that are permanently placed in the mouth. When we look at replacing a single tooth, the three most common options are a partial denture, a dental bridge, or a dental implant. Partial dentures and dental bridges both rely on the surrounding teeth to support them. Bridges work by connecting the false tooth to the surrounding teeth with dental crowns. This actually increases the risk of damage to those healthy teeth. The pressure placed on the bridge is taken by those teeth, which can lead to the bridge breaking later on. Moreover, dental decay is more likely to happen wherever there are crevices or divots in a tooth, which includes the area where a dental crown meets the rest of the tooth.
When replacing a full arch of teeth, the two most common options are dentures or implant-supported dentures. Dentures can slip, slide, and fall out. They impact your ability to speak, chew food, and alter your facial shape. Implant-supported dentures replace the structure of your original smile and are firmly put in place.
Typically, the cost of dental implants will be higher than the cost of dental bridges or dentures. Likewise, it is not uncommon for dentures and bridges to be covered under an insurance plan while dental implants might not be. That said, dental implants also tend to last longer than bridges and dentures. If you have questions about financing options or paying for dental implants, we would be happy to discuss pricing and payment options.
A full arch dental implant is a strategically designed dental implant that replaces a large number of teeth with only a few dental implants. Typically, this can be done with All-on-4 or All-on-6 solutions. Dr. Emma Wu specializes in these treatments, which allow her to replace all of your top or bottom teeth with just a handful of dental implants.
Singular dental implants replace a lost tooth at a one-to-one ratio. The most comparable dental treatment to singular dental implants is a dental bridge. But they are actually extremely different. A dental bridge only replaces the part of the tooth that is visible outside the gums. A dental implant replaces the complete structure of a lost tooth including the tooth’s root.
Traditional dentures have many significant drawbacks. Most notably, they are removable. This means they can shift and move when you chew or talk, impacting what you can eat and your ability to speak clearly. Dental implants, on the other hand, are stable and fixed in place. This means you can enjoy your favorite foods and smile confidently without worrying that your dental implants might fall out.
Dental implants are an investment in your long-term oral health and smile. In this guide, we cover some important considerations you should have when thinking about dental implants and other tooth replacement treatment options.
If you have questions about dental implants or would like to discuss your payment options or whether or not insurance can help cover your tooth replacement treatment, we’d be more than happy to help. Our finance coordinator can advise you on the best way to use your insurance benefits and our financing services to help make treatment affordable. During your consultation with Dr. Emma Wu, we can cover all of the steps and the full process of getting either a singular dental implant, full arch implant, or implant-supported dentures.
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