Teeth Replacement: The Four Limitations of Implants

Dental implants are the most advanced teeth replacement system because they are structurally designed like natural teeth. Unlike dental bridges or dentures, dental implants don’t move or fall out when eating or talking. While dental implants are the “gold standard” of teeth replacement, they have limitations. Keep reading to discover if dental implants from Stoneycreek Village Dental are right for you. 

Disadvantages of dental implants

Dental implants have countless benefits. They look and feel like real teeth and offer unrivaled stability and comfort. Dental implants also preserve the jawbone by providing functional stimulation. While dental implants have numerous benefits, they have a few drawbacks. Read through the limitations to determine if dental implants are right for you. 

1. Dental implants need surgery

A dental implant is a titanium post surgically embedded in the jawbone as a replacement root. Unfortunately, some people may be ineligible for surgery. For instance, oral surgery may not be suitable for patients with insufficient jawbones. Without adequate jawbone density or volume, an implant may not integrate securely. While bone grafts can sometimes help, severe bone loss may make implants unfeasible. 

Additionally, conditions like uncontrolled diabetes, osteoporosis, or autoimmune diseases may affect healing and bone integration. Smoking may also affect your eligibility for implant surgery. Tobacco affects blood flow and healing, increasing the risk of implant failure. We advise quitting or significantly reducing smoking before and after surgery to optimize implant healing.

2. Dental implants can fail

Although dental implants have an over 95% success rate, they can fail. Dental implantitis—an infection of the jawbone and tissues around the implant is the most common cause of implant failure. This implant infection occurs when you fail to observe optimal oral hygiene, causing harmful bacteria to infiltrate the implant site. Other common causes of implant failure include smoking, implant rejection, and poor placement. 

When an implant fails, replacement is possible, though it depends on the extent of damage to the surrounding bone and soft tissues. In such cases, the implant can be removed, allowing the area to heal and undergo additional bone grafting if needed to restore adequate bone structure for re-implantation.

3. Age limitation

We don’t recommend dental implants to young patients with developing jawbones. Most people don’t have fully developed jawbones until age 18-21. While age is a consideration, it alone isn’t enough to determine eligibility for dental implants. We use advanced dental imaging tools to assess the health and density of your jawbone to ensure it can securely support an implant.

The good news is that dental implants have no upper age limit. This means anyone in their 50s, 60s, and even 80s can enjoy dental implants if they have a healthy jawbone and are in good health. 

4. Dental implants aren’t an overnight solution

Dental implants aren’t your go-to solution if you are looking for an instant tooth replacement system. The healing period varies from patient to patient, but most individuals need 9-12 months for the implant to heal and fuse with the jawbone. Until your dental implants are fully healed, the dentist can’t attach a permanent restoration. 

Schedule a dental implant consultation today!

Despite the above limitations, we still recommend dental implants as the #one solution for replacing missing teeth. Do you need dental implants in Fort McMurray, Alberta? Call (780) 666-7327 to reserve an appointment with Drs. Alan Chan, Yohannes Melkie, and Cristina Rodrigo. 

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