Best Alternatives to Dental Implants – Overview
Dental implants are highly recommended when replacing one or more teeth. However, many patients avoid conventional dental implants for one or more reasons.
The patient always has the discretion to choose or refuse any treatment option. However, what other options do you have if you need to get a tooth replacement?
In this article, we will describe the importance of dental implants and some of the most popular dental implant alternatives.
When Do Dental Implants Become Necessary
Some patients tend to dread undergoing dental implant surgery. In reality, a person is lucky if they can afford dental treatment for tooth decay or a dental implant procedure. Dental experts say dental implants are necessary when a tooth has been damaged or decayed extensively.
This dental procedure is highly recommended to prevent the infection from decaying the tooth and affecting other healthy teeth.
Though there could be other reasons for undergoing dental implant surgery, there are few options available for treating, repairing, and restoring healthy teeth in some situations.
How Does a Dental Implant Work
Dental implant surgery involves precision and is generally performed under local anesthesia to minimize discomfort. These require some recovery care and time. To many patients, this is a drawback.
A dental implant procedure involves the following steps:
- Removing decayed teeth or teeth
- Replacing it with an artificial implant that has been specifically designed to fit your jawbone and replace the damaged, removed tooth
A dental implant is fixed onto your jaw with an artificial tooth. These artificial teeth are often called “crowns.” Depending on the patient’s needs, Dental implants can replace a single tooth, multiple teeth, or all teeth. While some swelling and discomfort are expected post-surgery, pain during the procedure is typically managed through anesthesia.
What Are the Dental Implant Alternatives
Fortunately, there are several different types of alternatives to choose from instead of a conventional dental implant.
However, as it’s not likely to find a sure fix or alternative that suits all, it is recommended to check all options before deciding on the best-suited dental implant alternative in your case.
Dental implant alternatives may be less expensive and suitable for some patients, but they do not always offer the same long-term durability and function as dental implants.
These are highly helpful in restoring lost tooth volume. However, dental restorative treatment may not always provide a permanent solution for dental problems.
Here are some of the top dental implant alternatives you can try:
What Are the Dental Implant Alternatives?
1 – Gum Disease Treatments
Gum disease treatment is considered one of the most basic alternatives to dental implant surgery. Gum disease can damage or cause decimation of the tooth enamel, which causes decay and form cavities in time.
Severe gum disease can even cause teeth to become loose. However, you can effectively restore healthy gums with proper regenerative dental care.
Though this alternative may not always produce the most satisfactory results, it is often a good choice for patients who have not experienced significant tooth loss or loss of jawbone structure. In any case, you will still be able to prevent tooth loss and keep your natural teeth for a longer time.
2 – Root Canal Therapy
Root canal therapy is highly recommended if a threatening infection is inside your tooth. This treatment helps to clean out the tooth and stabilize its health. This dental implant alternative makes removing and replacing damaged and decayed teeth easier with fillings.
Once the dentist removes the infected pulp from inside your tooth, they will fix the filling in its place.
A dental crown is placed over the tooth to prevent further decay or infection. If the damage to your tooth is mild, you may not even need to wear a crown on the tooth.
3 – Dental Bridges
A dental bridge is a common alternative to dental implants for replacing missing teeth, but it requires altering adjacent teeth to support the bridge. This dental restoration method uses two crowns on each side of the space where your missing tooth used to be. It then placed a replacement tooth in between the crowns.
Dental bridges look extremely similar to dental implants but without the problems and drawbacks associated with the latter.
Dental bridges may be more affordable upfront and do not require surgical placement, but they might need replacement more often than dental implants. However, this is not a durable option, as the dental bridge is liable to get knocked, loosened, chipped, or even broken over time by chewing hard foods.
4 – Partial/Full Mouth Dentures
Dentures are excellent for improving your situation when dental implants and crowns are ineffective.
Dentures are removable replacements for missing teeth. They can be partial or full sets, but they rest on the gums rather than being anchored like natural teeth. Dentures are often associated with old age but offer numerous benefits to users of all ages.
Dentures can effectively imitate the feel of natural teeth within the mouth. They are created to custom measurements so they can fit an individual’s mouth perfectly. Some high-quality dentures look so similar to natural teeth that it is often hard to distinguish between the two.
5 – Denture attachments
You can attach dentures to your teeth or mouth in several ways. Dentists may sometimes use simple dentures that can easily be fixed in place using glue and suction.
Advanced denture options include implant-supported dentures that can be more secure, but traditional dentures typically use suction or adhesives, not magnets. It is easier to quickly remove and attach these types of dentures, making cleaning and maintenance more efficient.
When discussing long-term durability and comfort, many dentists recommend using denture attachments as these are most comfortable, less irritating/painful and cause less discomfort than conventional dentures.
Conclusion
Some of the best dental implant alternatives are gum disease treatment, root canal therapy, classic dental bridge, full/partial mouth dentures and denture attachments.
Consult with your dentist or orthodontist to determine the most affordable and effective dental implant alternative for you.
Dental Grants by State
See Also
Dental Crown Cost Without Insurance
Does Medicare Cover Dental Implants
How to Get Dental Implants Covered by Insurance
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