Dental implants are often hyped up by dentists, and not without good reason. Their connection directly to the jaw gives them a level of strength and security that dentures and bridges simply can’t match. They’re also made of high-quality materials that make them incredibly durable.
With as much praise as dental implants get, you may start to wonder whether they’re even better than your natural teeth. As it turns out, there are some ways in which that might be true. Here’s a guide comparing dental implants to your natural enamel.
How are Dental Implants Better Than Enamel?
As silly as this claim may sound, there are some reasons why you might actually prefer dental implants to natural teeth. A big one is that the crown of a dental implant is made out of porcelain, which is much more resistant to the acids that cause cavities than enamel is. As a result, getting a dental implant makes cavities and tooth decay a thing of the past, at least for the tooth you replaced.
What Makes Dental Implants Worse Than Natural Teeth?
That said, there are reasons to prefer your natural teeth to artificial ones, even dental implants. Your enamel is the hardest material in your body, even harder than bone. This means that your teeth can stand up to a lot of abuse.
While the porcelain that dental implants are made out of is durable, it’s not quite as strong as your enamel. This means that your dental implant is liable to chip much easier than your natural teeth.
Who is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?
For the most part, people who have a mouth full of healthy teeth are probably fine without dental implants. Dental implants are perfectly suited to replacing a tooth that has been lost.
That said, dental implants are sometimes recommended for those patients who have a seriously infected or decayed tooth. This saves the trouble of waiting for a tooth that’s too far gone to fall out. Instead, your dentist may extract the tooth, wait for the wound to heal, and put the dental implant in its place.
While it’s not conclusive to say that dental implants are better than natural teeth, they can certainly help you improve the overall quality of your smile when used strategically.
About the Author
Dr. Tony Nguyen is happy to say that he brings something unique to dentistry. His down-to-earth attitude and impeccable chairside manner, paired with his second-to-none clinical knowledge, allow him to turn his patient’s dream smiles into reality. Dr. Nguyen received his degree from the Nova Southeastern College of Dental Medicine and completes 150+ hours of continuing education each year.
If you have any questions about dental implants, he can be reached at his website or by phone at (972) 723-1148.