Advantages of Dental Implants
A dental implant is a sophisticated replacement tooth mimicking the complete structure of a natural tooth. A titanium “root” is implanted to the bone as a base for a denture, bridge or crown. It looks, feels and works like a natural tooth and may last for life when well taken care of.
Dental implant technology is considered the ideal tooth replacement solution nowadays due to its various advantages to older treatments. And, with recent innovations in dental diagnostics and bone reconstruction, most patients can now benefit from dental implants, including those who were once told it was impossible.
So what in particular do dental implants offer that other parallel solutions do not?
Act Like Natural Teeth
Implants are capable of restoring full chewing power. It can be difficult to distinguish them from your natural teeth. You can eat with them, brush and floss as though nothing’s changed.
Last a Lifetime
As we said earlier, whereas a dental bridge’s lifespan is just around 10 years or so, dental implants can be for life. Implants are actually metals – titanium in particular – which integrate fully into the jawbone. It’s bio-compatible, which simply means it is harmless and will not be rejected by the body.
Stop Gum Disease and Bone Loss
When a tooth is missing, the space can become a trap for food and, hence, bacteria, leading to gum disease. Dental implants, being structurally identical to natural teeth, can prevent this scenario. Without tooth roots, the jaw bone lacks stimulation, causing bone loss. Again, implants address this problem. In comparison, dentures usually come loose and then rub against the bony ridge, wearing it away over time. As an implant serves the role of the root and the tooth, and chewing power is completely restored, bone can be stimulated enough to encourage bone growth.
Maintain Stability of Adjacent Teeth
The space from a missing tooth can make adjacent teeth shift irregularly into the gap. The effect of this is not only on your appearance but also in your bite and chewing ability. It can pose difficulties with tooth replacement later. A poor bite can come with TMJ (temporomandibular joint) issues in time, causing pain and headaches.
Prevent Facial Sagging
Facial sagging is one of the possible undesired effects of bone loss due to missing teeth. This is when the lower part of the face slowly collapses and closes the distance between the chin and the tip of the nose. When this happens, the chin becomes looks sharper, the lips become thinner, and the skin around the mouth wrinkles – all giving the impression that the person is above their real age.
If you’re thinking of getting dental implants though, keep in mind that the final result of the procedure will depend considerably on who’s performing it. So make sure you choose your dentist well.