Let's take the two most common occurrences for needing an implant and talk about your options. Let's say you have a single tooth that needs to be removed. Your options for replacing it are either a bridge or an implant. With a bridge, your dentist needs to grind on the tooth in front of the space and also on the tooth behind the space. So, basically because there is one bad tooth, you now have to damage two potentially healthy teeth. Not great. With an implant, you never have to touch the teeth on either side of the space.
At least currently, most dental implants are not covered by insurance. But, think about this for a second. The average bridge lasts 7-10 years and costs around $3000. If you have good insurance they will cover half of that, leaving your cost to be $1500. If you have to replace the bridge in 10 years, you are now talking about $3000, which is about the cost of a dental implant. And with the life expectancy of an implant to be around 25-30 years, it more than makes up for it in cost, let alone not having to damage the teeth on both sides.
The other most common use for dental implants is to hold dentures in place. You would be shocked how many people have dentures, and if you were able to get an honest answer from these people, they'd tell you that their teeth slip and slide and those adhesives are nothing but a mess. Especially with lower dentures. If someone has to wear a lower denture, they are a dental cripple instantly. But, if you can anchor the denture to dental implants, they become extremely stable. People say adding these implants instantly transforms their lives, allowing them to eat the foods they want and have the confidence that their teeth aren't going anywhere when they talk or laugh.
So, implants are here to stay. And that is a very, very good thing.
