Dental implants - are they better than natural teeth?

Nowadays, patients find much information on dental treatment from the Internet. There is a vast amount of information on dental implants, in contrast to the limited information available on natural teeth. This review addresses research on survival of natural teeth and dental implants, and discusses factors affecting the survival rate of implants, as well as certain dogmas in implant dentistry. To simplify treatment planning, the article presents a classification system in which teeth are classified as secure, doubtful, or irrational to treat. Secure teeth should last for a long period of time without need for complex treatment. Doubtful teeth are teeth that might need complicated treatment and additional maintenance in order to be maintained. Teeth irrational to treat are teeth that cannot be saved and for which extraction is the only treatment option. Multiple risk factors might decrease the survival probability of teeth. The survival and success rates of dental implants will never succeed the survival rates of healthy, clean teeth. Dental implants and implant-supported restorations are an excellent treatment modality, but it must always be kept in mind that it is associated with a risk of biological and technical complications. Implants are supposed to replace missing teeth - they are not supposed to replace teeth.