Dental implants may seem to have a higher cost initially but when compared with the continued expense incurred with other treatment options – most implant patients would agree that the initial outlay is more than worth it.
Improved self-confidence, an increased perception of your own appearance, better oral health and an enhanced quality of life are just some of the reasons that dental implants are now generally accepted as the highest standard of care for replacing lost teeth.
Your quality of life and leisure time are precious and with other tooth replacement procedures there are routine adjustments, special cleaning routines and replacements for dentures and bridges. With dental implants after your initial treatment you can quickly get back into a normal routine for oral hygiene.
| Dentures | Fixed Bridge | Dental implants | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial procedure | Take an impression of the toothless (edentulous) gum (gingiva) to create a custom denture. | Trim the neighbouring natural teeth to support the prosthesis. | Place the implant/s into the bone, allow healing of the bone and soft tissue. Then take an impression of the area/s to create a custom crown, bridge or fixed denture. |
| Aesthetic (appearance) | May cause some wrinkles to the face | Can result in poor aesthetics caused by gold / silver prosthetics. | Look and function like your existing natural teeth. |
| Lifespan | Adjustments/ replacements will be needed every 3-4 years. | Adjustments/ replacements will be needed every 5-10 years. | With good oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist your implants can last a lifetime. Your final restorantion will need adjusting around every 7-10 years. |
| Risk of negative side effect | Bone resorption will occur. | Neighbouring teeth will be damaged at initial placement and again at each further adjustment. | None — as the implant is only required in the space of the missing tooth or teeth. |
| Treatment time | Short treatment. | Short treatment. | 3-6 months in an ideal situation. |
| Cost | Initial cost is lower, but repeated adjustments will incur additional fees. | Initial cost is lower, but repeated adjustments will incur additional fees. | Higher initial cost, but with a rare need for follow up care, upon completion of case. |