If any of your teeth are missing, dental implants can be a great choice for reclaiming a complete smile. However, nowadays dentists are seeing patients who are interested in having this treatment performed to replace teeth that are still healthy. As reliable as dental implants are, it’s always preferable to keep your natural teeth whenever you can. Here’s what you need to know about the importance of preserving your natural smile.
Why Is It Better to Keep Your Natural Teeth?
If your natural teeth are in good condition, there are several reasons why you should keep them:
- A More Comfortable Smile: While dental implants feel more lifelike than other tooth replacement options, the simple fact is that your natural teeth will always feel more comfortable than any type of dental prosthesis.
- Sensory Feedback: The nerves in your natural teeth allow you to gauge and control how hard you bite your food. This is something you can’t do with dental implants since they don’t contain any nerves.
- Cost: If you choose to get dental implants, you’ll need to pay for the surgery, the implant posts, and any preliminary treatments that are deemed necessary. It’s ultimately less costly to simply keep your natural teeth.
When Should You Get Dental Implants?
In general, you should only pursue dental implants in cases where keeping your natural teeth is not a viable option. Here are some examples of situations where replacing a tooth might be necessary:
- The tooth in question has fallen out of your mouth and cannot be reimplanted.
- There is an infection in your tooth that could spread to other parts of your mouth.
- Your tooth has been so severely damaged that it cannot be repaired.
What are the Advantages of Dental Implants?
If you’re unable to save your natural teeth, replacing them with dental implants is considered the next best thing. Because dental implant posts are surgically placed in the jaw, they can act as artificial tooth roots. As such, they offer better stability and chewing power than other tooth replacement options. Furthermore, the stimulation provided by your implant posts will help prevent bone loss in your jaw.
On top of that, dental implants are notable for their longevity. A well-maintained dental implant can easily last for decades or even the rest of your life.
In short, there’s no need to replace perfectly healthy teeth with dental implants. But if you’re in a situation where keeping your natural teeth is no longer viable, dental implants can definitely be worth considering.
About the Author
Dr. Atluri earned her first dental degree in India, and she received a Doctor of Dental Surgery from the New York University College of Dentistry. Her professional memberships include the International Dental Implant Association and the Texas Dental Association. At We Smile Dental of Arlington, she is able to place and restore dental implants in-house. If you are thinking of getting dental implants to replace your missing teeth, you can schedule an appointment with Dr. Atluri by visiting her website or calling (682) 452-1150.