Even with great care and numerous precautions, your teeth can slowly decay due to acidic/sugary foods and beverages eating away at the enamel. Eventually, that enamel develops significant areas of tooth decay called cavities. Sometimes, the tooth sustains irreparable deterioration necessitating tooth removal as the only solution.
In such cases, many patients opt for dental implants. Are dental implants stronger than natural teeth? As providers of quality dental implants in New Orleans, LA, our practitioners at Dental Arts of New Orleans offered some pertinent information to answer your question.
Understanding Dental Implants
Dental implants are titanium posts that our expert oral surgeon surgically positions in the space where the original tooth was removed.This tooth replacement system consists of three main components:
- The implant is the post that the oral surgeon surgically places into your jawbone. This implant will bond to the bone and function similarly to a tooth root.
- The abutment is the attachment that firmly connects the crown to the implant.
- The replacement crown is the component that looks like a tooth. Once attached to the abutment, this crown will function much like your missing tooth once did.
The entire dental implant process occurs over the course of 4-6 months.
What Are Implants Made of?
Each dental implant component is composed of different materials. The implant and abutment are made of titanium, a virtually indestructible metal material. The crowns are made from porcelain or ceramic.
Are dental implants stronger than natural teeth? They are much stronger! The implant posts and abutments can withstand years of wear and tear. However, your implants can still incur damage under certain circumstances.
Can Implants Decay?
No, dental implants cannot develop decay. Your natural teeth consist of a protective layer of hard, bone-like tissues called enamel and a network of soft tissues like nerves in the center. These organic materials erode away due to acidic foods, cavities, infections, and abrasive actions like brushing too hard or chewing on solid items.
Each surface scratch or cavity leaves the tooth even more susceptible to decay and further damage. The living tissues do not regenerate. Instead, they decay, which causes pain and puts other teeth in danger of infection.
Dental implants, however, are not made of living tissues. Their solid materials can withstand the acids or sugars in foods and beverages without decaying or degrading. You should still, however, practice a strong oral hygiene routine to protect your gums, tongue, and other natural teeth from disease and decay.
Can Implants Crack or Chip?
Dental implants are not as susceptible to cracking, chipping, or breaking as natural teeth. The implant posts and abutments will likely never sustain such damage. However, the crowns can still incur damage if you do not take the proper precautions.
Avoid using destructive force or pressure on your implant, such as:
- Grinding your teeth
- Biting down with great force on hard objects like ice or jaw breakers
- Decades of regular use
If you accidentally break a ceramic or porcelain crown, you will need to schedule a replacement appointment.
Although the crowns can sustain damage through improper treatment, they possess a higher imperviousness compared to natural teeth. Their materials don’t degrade over time like a tooth’s enamel. Therefore, they can handle more pressure and force for longer than aging natural teeth.
Ask Dental Arts of New Orleans About Dental Implants
Are dental implants stronger than natural teeth? Our patients ask this question frequently. Your dental implants will last longer with fewer issues than your natural teeth. Some basic care and simple precautions will go a long way in preserving your dental implants for years.Are you considering dental implants in the near future? Call (504) 394-5330 to set up an appointment at Dental Arts of New Orleans. Our staff can answer any of your questions and provide detailed information about the average healing time for implants.
