In order to help explain the benefits of treatment involving Dental Implants, it may be necessary to consider some of the disadvantages of treatment without implants. It is clear that the bone and soft tissue continues to shrink after teeth are lost. Replacement of missing teeth with dentures or fixed bridges or not replacing them at all, results in continuing bone and soft tissue loss and its consequences. In addition, partial dentures and bridges can only redistribute the load of chewing over the remaining teeth. This treatment can be adequate when there are enough remaining teeth, and the remaining teeth are strong. However, the remaining teeth are often weakened by previous tooth decay and some loss of supporting bone due to gum disease. In addition, the bite may be heavy, the remaining teeth too few, and in the wrong position to help treatment. This often results in an accelerated loss of remaining teeth.

As shown above, tooth replacement with dentures results in additional coverage of soft tissue with denture acrylic or metal, movement of replacement teeth and problems with unexpected dislodgement and small food particle going under the denture. These do not feel like natural teeth.

We frequently use dentures as temporary teeth while implants are maturing or being planned for the future.

Preparing remaining teeth to accept crowns and bridges. There is usually a significant risk that the involved teeth will require immediate or future root canal treatment. Replacing missing teeth with implants eliminates this tooth reduction and subsequent need for root canal treatment. As well, it is important to understand that root canal treatment and concurrent tooth reduction increases the chance of further tooth failure.

When all the natural teeth are lost in the upper or lower jaw, there is a great amount of continuing shrinkage of the bones & gums. Figure on the right shows a healthy lower jaw bone with teeth (top). The middle jaw, without teeth, has experienced bone shrinkage & the bottom jaw has experienced severe shrinkage. This lower jaw is very difficult to restore with a complete denture –comfortably—and is susceptible to fracture. This shrinkage explains why the dentures seem to sink out of sight over time, the upper lip becomes more wrinkled, the lower denture slips forward & back, the nose and chin become more prominent and closer together, sores appear at the corners of the mouth, new dentures become more difficult to wear (they do not fit like earlier ones) and tissues under dentures become sore.

Dental Implants can often be used to mechanically anchor your dentures or replace dentures entirely. As few as two implants can often make a big difference to the happiness of denture wearers. Fixed teeth can often be attached to multiple implants and return a mouth to good health & stability.

Implant supported teeth can better support your lips and separate the collapsed space between the upper and lower jaw to a more pleasing and functional dimension. Dental implants can make you look better, feel better and allow you to better enjoy social events where your ability to eat, speak and smile are an asset.