Compared to dentures or dental bridges, dental implants offer a lot more as prosthetic teeth. It’s to the point that they represent the gold standard of modern tooth replacement. However, you ultimately shouldn’t replace healthy teeth with dental implants; sticking to the former is always best. Your Harrisonburg dentist will even outline why that’s true here and now. To that end, read on to learn why dental implants shouldn’t replace your healthy pearly whites.
Nothing Can Match Healthy Teeth
Let alone dental implants, nothing should replace your healthy teeth. No restorations that exist today can match the chompers you were born with.
A person’s natural teeth (when healthy) work better than prosthetics. Shaped by millennia of evolution, they excel as tools for eating, speaking, and smiling. No substitutes – whether dentures, dental bridges, or dental implants – can beat the perks they offer for your health. At the same time, restorations can never feel quite as comfy as a natural tooth does.
The better path is to treat healthy teeth as needed, not replace them. That could mean anything from cosmetic work and fillings to dental crowns, root canals, and so on.
Implants Only Replace At-Risk Teeth
If or when you get dental implants, they should only replace unhealthy or at-risk teeth. The posts do their best when “restoring” parts of your smile that can’t be saved.
“Dead” or highly infected teeth are harmful when left alone. Though they can fall out on their own, they ache and let harmful bacteria spread in the meantime. Thankfully, dental implants can replace these problematic teeth and stop such effects in their tracks. The result is an elevated quality of life.
All that said, only a dentist knows if a tooth can be saved. You should thus have one examine your smile and offer a diagnosis.
Tips on Avoiding Tooth Replacement
Whenever possible, you should avoid needing tooth replacement in the first place. You can do so by following the tips below:
- Keep Your Smile Clean – Usually, you can keep your teeth healthy enough to avoid replacement by brushing them twice daily and flossing between them once daily.
- Get Dental Checkups – By seeing your dentist (at least) twice yearly for checkups, you can have oral issues diagnosed and treated before tooth replacement becomes necessary.
- Follow a Mouth-Healthy Diet – Many foods qualify as “mouth-healthy,” especially lean proteins, leafy greens, and dairy. Eat plenty of them to keep your teeth strong!
While you mustn’t replace healthy teeth with dental implants, the less healthy ones might benefit from treatment. Talk to your dental provider soon to see if the posts would help!
About the Practice
Harrisonburg Family & Cosmetic Dentistry is based in Harrisonburg, VA. Led by Drs. Mario DeNicola and Monisha Khanna, our practice strives to embody efficient, personalized, and calming dental care. We thus offer many tailored oral treatments, from checkups and cleanings to dental implants. Whatever help your smile needs, you can trust us to provide it quickly and easily! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (540)-432-6616.