The Australian Dental Association reports that 16% of the adult population has only a few teeth to smile with.
Your situation may not be that severe— perhaps you’ve only lost one tooth due to an accident.
But even a single missing tooth can harm the health of underlying bone or other teeth — and it can take a heavy toll on your social and work lives.
If you’re among those missing teeth, implants are often a good permanent alternative to bridges or dentures, but at a price. And that price can seem expensive.
You might ask, “should I shop around for my replacement treatment, and if my choice is a dental implant, should I comparison shop for it?”
At Sachdeva Dental Surgery, we are experts in dental implants, and we’d like you to know enough about them to decide if they should be your choice to replace missing teeth, and why price is not always the most important issue!
Dental Implants vs. Other, Cheaper, Treatments
There are two alternatives to implants, bridges and dentures. Neither is as complete a solution as implants.
Dentures. Traditional dentures restore your smile and support facial muscles, but because they have no underlying support, the jawbone and gums miss the stimulation of tooth roots that helps keep them healthy and strong.
Receding gums, bone loss, and face shape degeneration are common among denture wearers. There are other disadvantages as well:
- Gum irritation
- Slipping and sliding
- Reduced ability to chew
- Diminished ability to speak
- Sucking or clicking noises
- Reduced food taste
Dental bridges
In many cases, bridges require the teeth adjacent to the gap to be shaved down and fitted with crowns. Dental bridges ride over the top of the gums, leaving the bone and gums beneath to deteriorate due to lack of stimulation.
As gums recede and the jawbone weakens, the bridge can slide and cause irritation. Bridges also create a convenient spot for bacteria, plaque, and tartar
Implants avoid these problems – they stimulate gums, are easily cleaned, avoid bone-loss, and support the face. This means they save you from many hours of additional treatment in the future, and unlike dentures and bridges, rarely need replacement!
Should I Shop Around Among Dentists?
Sachdeva Dental Surgery suggests that you think about “shopping around” in a different way. While shopping around for a good price is sensible, it is far more important to shop around for a skilled dentist – one with the experience, skill, and training to do a good job.
Here are the three things to keep in mind
Materials
The exact components of the titanium alloy used in dental implants are the result of years of trials and clinical studies. Some types are more expensive than others, and your dentist needs to know the difference.
The second part of an implant is the crown. Crowns on implants are just like regular the regular dental crowns we use to treat broken or decayed teeth.
They are made from ceramic or porcelain and, again it requires a skilled dentist to place them.
Experience and skill
As the popularity of implants has risen, so have the numbers of dentists who perform them. Many dentists have years of experience placing dental implants.
Typically, the treatment takes several appointments, frequently with healing time between appointments. It requires a dentist with great skill and patience.
Placement
Your implant dentist needs to be aware of your specific oral condition. The planning involves scans and X-rays to give the dentist a precise idea of what’s where in your mouth.
Besides, other treatments such as bone-grafts may be needed. It takes an experienced and skilled dentist to get it right.
Your implants are more of an investment than a cost – which means you should focus not as much on the money as on the certainty that you will get a job well done.
At Sachdeva Dental Surgery, we assure you that a job well done is what we will give you!
Convenient, Competent Care at Sachdeva Dental Surgery
Sachdeva Dental Surgery is conveniently located on Stud Road near Burwood Highway in Wantirna South. We are on public transport lines and offer free and convenient parking.
We offer late afternoon and early evening hours, emergency treatment, and you can contact us by phone or on our convenient online contact form.
If you are searching for a dental surgery where the dentist discovers what your concerns and desires are, and who makes decisions based on what you indicate, then Sachdeva Dental Surgery is the place for you.
Our training and technology is unsurpassed including “One-stop” Cerec restoration and SNAP Dental Imaging Software.
We understand the importance of a compassionate staff and relaxing atmosphere for your dental experience. We get to know all of our patients on a personal level.
Wantirna South dentist also serving local communities in Knox City, Boronia, Bayswater, Scoresby, Rowville, Ferntree Gully, Vermont, Vermont South, Burwood, Burwood East, Ringwood, Ringwood East, and Wantirna.
To know more about our dental implants, call us on (03) 9800 2338 or visit us at 287 Stud Road in Wantirna South.
