Advantages of Dental Implants

Today, the field of dentistry has made many developments. If you have lost teeth, there are dental procedures which can restore them both functionally and in appearance. Dental implants are one such cosmetic procedure available today. They are very advantageous and have a long-lasting life. If maintained properly, they can last up to 10 years or more without any problem. However, one of the major disadvantages of dental implants is that there are relatively costly. Dental insurance companies will not provide cover for dental implants because they are considered cosmetic items. However, dental implants are worth the investment because of the advantages they have.

Dental implants are made from metal called titanium. Titanium is used because it has a number of properties which make it very suitable for making dental implants. It is very resistant to corrosion. In other words, it doesn't rust when exposed to water or various biological fluids. Titanium is also biologically compatible which means the human immune system will not reject implants made from titanium.

Titanium implants very stable because of a phenomenon called osseo integration. When titanium is kept in contact with the bone, the cells of the bone grow into the various depressions located on the surface of the titanium implant and this leads to integration of the bone with the implant. This is what makes titanium implants very stable.

Apart from titanium implants, there are also other types of implants. One such example is fibro integrated implants. However, when compared to osseo integrated implants these are not very advantageous. For this reason, fibro integrated implants are no longer in widespread use.

Despite all the advantages of dental implants, they have one major disadvantage. Dental implants are not easily affordable. A single dental implant can cost anywhere from $2000-$8000. Insurance companies will not provide cover for dental implants because these are considered cosmetic items. So when it comes to the procedure, you have to pay the entire amount from your pocket. There may also be other overhead costs such as diagnostic procedures and the fee charged by the dental practitioner.

If you are thinking of getting dental implants, you can start by contacting your family dentist and asking him or her for recommendations.