Missing a tooth can hurt a lot more than just the way your smile looks in pictures. It can affect the health of your jawbone and your other teeth. You might even be prone to bouts of depression due to missing a part of your grin. The best way to solve all these problems is with dental implants – small, screw-shaped titanium posts that replace not only the crown, but the root of your missing tooth. Read on to learn five reasons why implants are truly the best solution to tooth loss.
How Do Dental Implants Work?
Once you and your dentist have decided that implants are the right treatment for you, they will surgically place the implant into your jawbone. Then, over the course of several months, a process known as osseointegration will occur. Osseointegration is when your jawbone actually grows around the implant post until it’s essentially a part of your own anatomy. When this process is complete, your dentist will top the implant with a lifelike restoration, like a crown, and voila! No one but you should be able to tell the difference between your natural tooth and an implant.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants offer a whole host of benefits, such as:
1. Promoting Jawbone Health
Implants are the only solution to tooth loss that replaces not just the crown, or the part of your tooth that’s visible in your smile, but also the root, or the part underneath your gumline. This allows the implant to stimulate your jawbone whenever you chew, preventing your jawbone from deteriorating.
2. Keeping You Looking Younger
A deteriorated jawbone can make your face appear older. Missing teeth can also cause your facial muscles to sag. Dental implants solve both of these problems.
3. Enhanced Appearance
Unlike dentures or bridgework, dental implants don’t require any plastic or metal attachments to stay in place. They are designed to fit seamlessly into your smile and are topped with 100% porcelain crowns, bridges, or dentures, depending on how many teeth you’re missing.
4. Durability
Dental implants are designed to last for several decades, and can even last for the rest of your life if you take proper care of them through diligent brushing, flossing, and checkups with your dentist.
5. No Slippage
Because implants are placed directly into the jawbone, they won’t slip and slide around like ill-fitting traditional dentures might. They stay firmly rooted in place, so much so that they will feel exactly like your natural tooth did.
As you can see, dental implants are clearly the best choice when it comes to tooth replacement. If you’ve been suffering through tooth loss lately, ask your dentist if implants are right for you.
About the Author
Dr. Ali Torabi achieved his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Oklahoma. He has also undergone extensive training in dental implants, including miniature implants for patients who have already experienced jawbone loss. He can perform the entire process in his office without having to refer you to an outside specialist. To learn more, or to schedule an implant consultation, visit Dr. Torabi’s website by clicking here.
