More and more people are choosing dental implants to replace their missing teeth. With single implants, implant-supported bridges, and implant-supported dentures available, they are a great way to replace one or all your teeth. Before you sign up for treatment, however, check out these four pros and cons of dental implants to determine if they are the right choice for you.

Pro: They Cause No Damage to Healthy Teeth

Dental bridges require healthy teeth to be filed down, removing the enamel, to hold the bridge. This increases the risk of causing trauma to the tooth's pulp, especially on thin front teeth. If trauma occurs, an infection may later develop, requiring root canal therapy or extraction. The procedure also permanently alters the tooth, so it cannot survive without a crown to protect the pulp from infection, decay, and sensitivity. Partial dentures may scratch healthy teeth, especially if they have wire. This may destroy some enamel, exposing the tooth to decay. Dental implants have no negative effects on healthy teeth because they use the jawbone for support.

Pro: They Fuse to the Jawbone

Dental implants use the jawbone for support in two ways. First, they sit in the jawbone like real teeth. Second, and more importantly, they are made from titanium, which has the ability to fuse to bone. As the implant heals, the jawbone fuses to it, creating a strong hold like ligaments holding healthy teeth. This also helps keep the jawbone strong so it doesn't atrophy.

Con: Treatment Time May Be Long

Treatment for a dental implant can be long, especially if you need multiple procedures. If the tooth has already been extracted, you may need a bone graft to promote healthy volume, which is needed to support the implant. Once the area heals, the titanium implant can be inserted. The area heals again, and then a crown can be placed.

Con: They Are Expensive

The other disadvantage to implants is the cost. They are incredibly expensive at about $2,400 to $3,000 for a single implant. If you need additional treatments, however, you may pay up to $10,000. An implant-supported bridge with two to six implants may cost $3,500 to $30,000, and a full set of implant-supported dentures may cost up to $80,000. Your insurance may cover some of the cost, but they don't usually cover the actual implant.

Dental implants are the most durable option for replacing teeth because they use the jawbone for support. This makes them expensive, but it also means you may never need to have the implant replaced. If you would like to know more about dental implants or other tooth-replacement options, contact a cosmetic dentist in your area today.