Dental implants are an ideal way of getting rid of those unsightly gaps in your teeth that make you want to hide your smile. Tooth implants are one of those elements of cosmetic dentistry that can really boost your confidence when other methods of cosmetic dentistry have failed.

If you have a problem with plates, perhaps struggling with the comfort level, or if you are like myself and are an unsuitable candidate for a plate, due to a dry mouth, and the bridging option has failed then a tooth implant is certainly a good alternative.

Unlike dentures, dental implants are physically screwed into the jaw bone with a surgical screw acting as a fixing for a natural looking tooth. Dental implants can be used to replace a single tooth or a whole series of teeth although the later can prove to be extremely costly.

For a tooth implant to be a viable option you need to have sufficient jaw bone in the area of the missing tooth or teeth to hold the screw but unlike bridging, tooth implants do not require any form of support from your other teeth thus eliminating the possibility of damage.

With the right periodontist and good oral care tooth implants can last a lifetime but the crown on top of it will only last for 10 – 15 years.

Tooth implants have several advantages over the traditional bridge in that they don’t require the support of neighbouring teeth, because the implant replaces both the tooth and the root the bone is less likely to deteriorate and dental implants are easier to clean thus reducing the risk of decay.

The downsides of dental implants are that they require a surgical procedure, slightly off putting for those among us who are not to keen on the dentist on a good day and  cost involved is quite significant with the cost of a single tooth implant averaging in the region of $1,250 - $2,500 (but can be more) and a whole mouth costing up to around $80,000!