Dental Implants Pros & Cons: Advantages & Risks

Dental implants are an advanced and effective way to fill gaps in your smile left by missing teeth. Patients may seek implants for their excellent durability, natural look, and comfortable feel. However, implants are a more intense dental procedure that may not suit everyone. This article compares implants against other restorative procedures to illuminate their pros and cons. If you want to explore implants or see if they’re right for restoring your smile, schedule a free consultation with our team today.  

Pros of Dental Implants  

​Dental implants offer patients several advantages when replacing missing teeth:  

Durable and Long-Lasting  

​Dental implants ​often use titanium for the implant, and they anchor and fuse to your jawbone to create a secure, stable foundation. T​he crown itself is often designed to resist wear as well. These attributes make dental implants one of the most durable, long-lasting restorative dentistry solutions. With proper care, they can last a lifetime.  

Prevent Jawbone Deterioration  

When you bite and chew, your teeth stimulate your jawbone. This stimulation triggers the jawbone to constantly regenerate by producing new bone material, keeping it healthy and strong.  

A missing tooth causes its jawbone to lose stimulation, eventually deteriorating the jawbone. However, an implant prevents this by restoring jawbone stimulation. It often provides more stimulation than other solutions, too, since it fuses with the jawbone instead of merely sitting on top of it.  

Improved Aesthetic Appearance  

Dental implants are colored, shaped, and sized specifically to look like natural teeth. No one can tell the difference when you smile, restoring your confidence. They don’t slip, either, due to their jawbone fusion. Furthermore, by preserving the jawbone through stimulation, implants prevent your facial structure from changing through jawbone deterioration.  

Finally, missing teeth can cause surrounding teeth to shift and become crooked. An implant prevents this, maintaining a straight and even smile.  

Improved Chewing and Speaking  

Missing teeth can make eating and speaking harder. It’s not just the gap that creates difficulties, either. If your teeth shift, they can become crooked, leading to further chewing and speech issues. Implants fill the gaps, restoring eating and speaking abilities while preventing teeth from shifting and worsening the issues.   

Benefits of Dental Implants vs. Dentures  

Dentures are often seen as the most cost-effective way to replace teeth, especially compared to implants. However, implants offer numerous advantages over dentures:  

• Comfort and fit: Dentures require adhesives, meaning they could slip and may simply feel less comfortable since they are placed on top of your gums. ​Meanwhile, implants offer superior comfort and fit by anchoring to the jawbone.  

• Durability: Dentures may need replacement every five to ten years, while implants can last for life with proper care.¹ 

• Maintenance: Dentures require additional cleaning and periodic adjustments. Implants require only your regular oral health routine and dental visits.  

• Function: Dentures may shift or click when eating and speaking. Implants do not, due to their jawbone anchoring, making eating and speaking quite natural.  

• Jawbone health: Dentures do not stimulate the jawbone much, potentially causing bone loss. Implants offer plenty of jawbone stimulation since they fuse with the jawbone, preserving jawbone health.  

• Appearance: Dentures may look less natural and don’t prevent bone-loss-related facial structure changes. Implants look like natural teeth and prevent such facial changes.  
  
  

Benefits of Dental Implants vs. Bridges

Bridges may be a step up from dentures in terms of restoring missing teeth, but implants still have an edge in several ways:  

• Adjacent tooth health: Bridges require enamel removal from supporting teeth, and the bridge itself can wear those teeth faster. Implants stand on their own, preserving surrounding teeth. 

• Durability and longevity: Bridges can last up to 15 years with good care.² However, implants can last for life with care and maintenance.

• Jawbone health: Bridges don’t stimulate the jawbone, potentially leading to bone loss. Implants stimulate the jawbone like natural teeth.  

• Appearance and comfort: Implants offer a more natural look and feel than bridges, thanks to their jawbone anchoring. Bridges can still look real, but gum recession may occur.  

• Maintenance: Implants only require good oral health habits and dental visits once the process is complete. Bridges may require special cleaning techniques and tools and additional time at the dentist to check on them.  
  
  

Cons of Dental Implants

Although dental implants can be an excellent solution for some, they have some downsides. Here are some drawbacks to consider when considering implants as a way to restore your smile:  

• Higher initial cost: Implants are one the most expensive procedures up front due to the expertise, materials, and procedures involved. This may pay off in the long run with proper care that makes them last for life.  

• Time-intensive: The implant-jawbone fusion, or osseointegration, takes several months. Plus, you’ll need to make time to visit the dentist multiple times.  

• Surgery required: Placing the implant is a surgical procedure. Patients who prefer to avoid invasive procedures may not want implants.  

• Not everyone is suitable: Candidates generally must have good oral and overall health and a strong jawbone. Otherwise, they may need additional procedures or may not be viable candidates.  
  
  

Should I Get Dental Implants?

Here are some criteria to see if you might be a good candidate for dental implants: 

• Good oral health: Healthy gums and surrounding teeth reduce the risk of complications and maximize your implant’s chance of success. 

• Strong, fully grown jawbone: A developing jawbone may not be strong enough to support the implants. A strong, fully grown jawbone is necessary. Bone grafts can help strengthen weak but developed jawbones.  

• Good overall health: Because the procedure is surgical, candidates should be healthy overall. Conditions like diabetes or autoimmune conditions may slow healing or cause other issues, and certain medications may also impact the procedure.  

• Nonsmoker or willing to quit: Smoking and tobacco use can slow healing and increase failure risk. Quitting permanently is ideal, but abstaining for at least before, during, and after the procedure may make you a viable candidate.  
  
  

Get Affordable Dental Implants from ClearChoice

Dental implants are a long-lasting, aesthetically pleasing way to replace missing teeth and restore a seamless smile. Some considerations, such as cost and candidate criteria, should be kept in mind. However, patients may find implants offer significant long-term advantages that make the drawbacks worth it.  
  
The best way to find out if implants are right for you is to speak with an expert. Schedule an appointment with your local ClearChoice Dental Implant Center to learn more about getting dental implants today.  

Pros and Cons of Dental Implants FAQs

What is the lifespan of dental implants?  

Dental implants can last a lifetime with proper care, meaning excellent oral health habits and regular dental visits. This is because they use durable materials and anchor directly to the jawbone.  

At what age are dental implants not recommended?  

Dental implants have no upper age limit. However, the minimum recommended age is generally 18 years old. This is because children's jawbones may not be fully developed and unable to properly support implants.  

What can I expect during the dental implant procedure?  

Getting dental implants involves several steps:  

• ​​​Consultation  

• Preparatory procedures (if necessary)  

• Implant placement  

• Healing/osseointegration  

• Connector/impressions/temporary crown  

• Permanent crown 
  
  

The process can take several months since osseointegration is a slow, gradual process. Your dentist will advise you on what to do at each stage to integrate the implants successfully.  


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Sources: 
¹CADTH Health Technology Review - Longevity of Partial and Complete Dentures. 
  
²Cleveland Clinic - Dental Bridges