Why Does It Take Longer To Get Dental Implants Than Other Replacement Methods?

4 May 2023
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

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If you're looking into having one or more teeth replaced, chances are you've heard that dental implants are one of your options. However, you may have also discovered that dental implants can take more time to get fully set up in comparison to things like dentures and bridges. If you're wondering why this is and if it's still worth it to get dental implants, then here's what you should know.

Surgically Implanted

One of the biggest differences between dental implants, bridges, and dentures is that dental implants are placed surgically. Dentures sit on top of the gums and are secured with adhesive, while bridges are designed to use existing teeth or dental implants as support posts.

Dental implants go under the surface of your gums, which means undergoing dental surgery and taking time to recover from the procedure. While this process and delay are unavoidable, it's a big part of what makes dental implants so popular as a method of replacing missing teeth.

Using Your Body's Abilities

Dental implants aren't simply stitched into your gums. Instead, the implant extends to the jaw bone. Your dentist will create a small hole in the bone to set the dental implant into. After that, the gums are stitched up around the top of the implant, and that's when the healing and adaptation process begins.

The main reason why this takes so long is because of your bones, not your gums. Gums can heal from dental surgery pretty quickly; you likely remember this from when you had your wisdom teeth extracted. However, bone takes a lot longer to recover. And if pressure is put upon the bone too soon, it can cause damage to the bone, which is something that needs to be avoided.

The Perks

The great thing about dental implants is that by using your own body's abilities, they're far more secure and strong than any other method of teeth replacement. While it takes a while for the bone to grow back and cover the hidden part of your dental implant, that bone is also what makes dental implants so strong and secure. The bone supports and stabilizes the implant the same way that it does with the roots of your real teeth. Waiting until the bone has completely sealed up around the dental implant ensures that you end up with a  tooth replacement that lasts longer than any other and is just as strong as a real tooth. This provides you with the most natural and long-lasting result.

For more information on dental implant procedures, contact a professional near you.