Dental implants are often the best solution for people with a missing tooth or teeth. Human teeth are meant to last forever.  When natural teeth are lost, additional dental problems result.  The "bite" changes when teeth shift to fill in the space from missing teeth.  This results in damage and deterioration of healthy teeth.  In many cases, dental implants are the best solution.

Implants last longer.

Dentures and temporary dental bridges can fill in the gaps caused by missing teeth.  Both will need to be replaced in 7 to 10 years.

Dental implants are permanent. They are attached with titanium posts directly to the jawbone. They are long-lasting, usually lasting from 25 to 30 years.  They are often never replaced.

Implants feel and look natural.

Dental implants are the most natural way to replace lost teeth.  Dentures are artificial teeth that sometimes have problems with the perfect fit.  Dentures that don't fit correctly cause bone loss, sores, and jaw pain.  Ill-fitting dentures often result in problems chewing, as well.

Implants restore the mouth to its natural state.  The entire tooth, from the root up, is completely replaced.  Implants provide a stable and durable underpinning.  The post of the implant acts as the root, and the dental crown functions and looks like a real tooth.

Good oral hygiene is the only maintenance required.  Implants allow normal biting and chewing, without the possible side effects of dentures.

Implants preserve the bone, healthy teeth, and facial integrity.

When teeth are lost, the bone begins to deteriorate.  This causes a change in the facial structure.  The lower 1/3 of a face will collapse when all the teeth are missing.

When a dental bridge is used to replace missing teeth, adjacent teeth, even if they are healthy, must be ground down.  Then the bridge (tooth-supported) can be adhered or cemented to them.  When the healthy tooth is compromised, the structure cannot be returned to normal.  The teeth that were ground for the bridge may have long-term health issues.

Even partial dentures are clasped to adjacent teeth.  The pressure of the clasps can loosen the otherwise healthy tooth.

Dental implants created through crown supports do not involve otherwise healthy adjacent teeth.  The bone and natural teeth are never compromised.  When the implants are in place, they protect from bone loss.

Implant surgery requires the patient be free of infection, in general good health, with a complete jawbone and healthy gums.  The implants will be put directly into the healthy jawbone for support and protection from future bone loss.

Keep in mind, it requires surgery to put in dental implants.  Follow all the dentist's instructions after the procedure.  Dental implants are often the best long-term solution to getting new teeth that fill in those vacant spaces.