If you have missing teeth, you may be wondering if dental implants are a good choice. Dental implants are typically a great choice to replace missing teeth, but many people still shy away from this procedure because it seems so invasive and expensive. If you would like to know more, check out these three facts you need to know about dental implants.

1. They Fuse to Bone

A dental implant consists of three parts: the crown, abutment, and the implant. The implant portion sits in your gums, and it is made of titanium, which has a property known as osseointegration. In other words, it can fuse to bone, which is why dental implants are so strong. In fact, with good care, your implant may last a lifetime.

This fusion creates a hold that is equal to or better than the ligaments that hold healthy teeth in place. As a result, they also help keep your jawbone healthy. When you are missing teeth, your jawbone often shrinks because it isn't needed to support teeth. Since the dental implant uses the jawbone, however, it stimulates the jawbone, so it won't shrink.

2. You Need a Healthy Mouth

Before you can get dental implants, your dentist will want to ensure your mouth is healthy. This mostly consists of two things: checking your gums and checking your jawbone. If you have gum disease, your gums may be too weak and sensitive to handle an implant. The implant may irritate the gums more, and the chance of failure increases. You'll need to treat the gum disease and the side effects first.

Similarly, if you have gum disease or lots of missing teeth, your jawbone may have shrunk. True, implants stimulate your jawbone to keep it strong, but they also need a strong jawbone to work. If you don't get a bone graft before your jawbone, and your jawbone is weak, the implant could fail.

3. They Come in Multiple Options

A single dental implant is a great choice for replacing one tooth, but what if you are missing multiple teeth? Multiple single dental implants would also work, but you'd save a lot more by choosing implant-supported bridges and/or dentures.

These devices replace multiple teeth but use fewer titanium implants, which is how you save money. The implant-supported bridge is fixed like a single implant, but the dentures can be removed. The implants stay in the gums.

Dental implants are a great way to replace missing teeth. They are durable and come in many options. If you would like to know more, contact a dentist in your area today.