Dental implants are artificial tooth roots made of titanium that are surgically placed into the jawbone to hold a replacement tooth or bridge in place. They have become a popular option to replace missing teeth and restore your smile. However dental implants may not be for everyone.
Hence, before deciding whether to get dental implants, it’s important to understand crucial information about it. So, in this article, we will take a look at questions like, ‘What are dental implants?”, “Reasons not to get dental implants” etc. The information provided is hoped to assist you in making an informed decision.
What are dental implants?
Dental implants are small titanium posts that are surgically inserted into the jawbone as artificial tooth roots to replace missing teeth. The implants are inserted into the jawbone through a process called osseointegration. This creates a strong, durable foundation for permanent replacement teeth that look and function similarly to natural teeth.
Dental implants can be used to support single-tooth crowns, bridges anchored to multiple implants, or implant-supported dentures. They allow patients to smile, talk, and eat with confidence. Dental implants restore missing teeth both functionally and aesthetically.
10 reasons not to get dental implants
Now, let’s take a look at the 10 reasons not to get dental implants to understand whether or not it is suitable for you.
1. High Upfront Costs
Dental reasons not to get dental implants are expensive, with a single implant typically costing $3,000-$4,500. Since the process often requires multiple implants along with preliminary surgeries and bone grafts, the total costs can reach $15,000-$30,000. For many patients, this high price tag puts implants out of reach, even when financing options are available.
2. Extended Treatment Time
The complete dental implant process generally takes 6-9 months and may require several procedures. After the posts are surgically inserted, you must wait 3-6 months for osseointegration before the replacement teeth are attached. Such an extended treatment timeline requires a considerable time commitment.
3. Surgical Procedures and Healing
Placement of dental implants is an invasive surgical procedure with all the risks that entails. It often requires multiple surgeries, such as bone grafting beforehand. Following each procedure, you will likely experience significant swelling and discomfort during the healing process, which typically takes several months. For some patients, this recovery is simply too difficult.
4. Risks and Complications
While major complications are rare, all surgeries carry risks like infections at the implant site, nerve injuries, and sinus problems from bone grafting. Implants may also fail and have to be removed. Smokers and people with certain medical conditions have higher failure and complication rates. It’s important to thoroughly discuss risks and your health history with your dentist beforehand.
5. Ongoing Dental Visits
Dental reasons not to get dental implants require the same care and commitment as your natural teeth to prevent problems like infections and bone loss that lead to implant failure. You must practice good daily hygiene around implants and see your dentist every 3-6 months for special cleanings and checkups. The future expense of frequent dental maintenance appointments should be considered.
6. Limitations in Candidacy
Though success rates are very high overall, implants may not be an option at all for certain patients. Reasons for not qualifying can include chronic conditions like uncontrolled diabetes, radiation to the jaw, low bone density, inadequate bone to support the implants, and heavy smoking. Anatomical limitations like nerve positions can also preclude implant placement. Be sure to get a full examination to determine if you are a good candidate.
7. Esthetic Challenges
While dental implants aim to mimic the look and function of natural teeth, achieving an attractive, natural-looking smile is difficult. In some cases, underlying bone loss can cause visible metal implant posts or lead to longer-looking teeth. There is also the risk of an unnatural look if the implants are poorly positioned. This is one of the other reasons not to get dental implants Be sure to select an experienced implant dentist and view before/after photos to develop realistic expectations about the esthetic outcome.
8. Permanent Tooth Loss
Implant placement requires drilling away some existing bone to insert the posts. This permanently damages otherwise healthy bone and tooth-supporting tissues. If implants later need to be removed due to complications or failure, you are left with significant new deficits in those areas. This can preclude wearing dentures or replacing the implants. So implant placement leads to irreversible changes.
9. Potential Impact on Natural Teeth
Though rare, placement trauma can damage adjacent natural teeth, putting them at increased risk for problems like infection or death of the tooth’s nerve. These issues may then require root canals or extractions to resolve, causing the loss of additional natural teeth. Proper surgical technique minimizes this risk, but it’s one more reason some dentists advise caution when considering implants.
10. Ongoing Maintenance Is Non-Optional
Once you get implants they require the same level of care and maintenance as natural teeth. Poor hygiene and missed dental visits lead to problems like infections and bone loss that destabilize implants. So implants must be cared for daily and professionally cleaned every 3-6 months without fail throughout your lifetime. The commitment is significant, as lost implants typically cannot be replaced.
Conclusion
As you consider reasons not to get dental implants, it’s clear there are many complex factors in play beyond simply the cost. Dental implants can provide huge quality-of-life benefits for those missing teeth, restoring the ability to eat, speak, and smile normally.
But implants do represent a major investment in both financial terms and lifestyle commitment to proper ongoing care. Additionally, patients must accept small risks of complications and be prepared to go through extended healing periods after invasive surgery before enjoying the results. And implants ultimately lead to permanent changes in the jawbone that cannot be reversed.
So, in a nutshell, they do not represent a quick or easy tooth replacement option. But for committed candidates implants provide predictable long-term tooth replacement. It also has a success rate of over 95% over decades. That leads many to accept the numerous downsides reviewed here.
As you weigh your own decision, be sure to carefully consider each relative risk and benefit. Getting the facts beforehand minimizes regret down the road. And ask yourself: are my circumstances right to take the implant plunge? Am I fully committed for the long run? Honest answers here help ensure your outcome meets expectations.
References
- National Institute Of Health(n.d) The Risk Factors in Early Failure of Dental Implants: a Retrospective Study Available online at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5702435/
- Shavit, I., & Juodzbalys, G. (2014). Inferior Alveolar Nerve Injuries Following Implant Placement – Importance of Early Diagnosis and Treatment: a Systematic Review. Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Research, 5(4). https://doi.org/10.5037/jomr.2014.5402
