With the different cosmetic dental treatments available today, losing a tooth is not a huge deal anymore. Within a few days, your lost tooth will be replaced and you can show off your complete set of pearly whites again.
The only dilemma you may likely encounter when replacing a lost tooth is choosing from the variety of possible treatments. But there should be one option that should be on the top of your list: dental implants.
Dental Implants as a Teeth Replacement Option
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root surgically placed in a person’s jaw to firmly hold a crown, removable denture, or bridge.
Most implants are made of titanium since it is biocompatible with the human body. This material has the unique property of effectively fusing directly to the bone through a process called “osseointegration.” This material has also been proven to be strong and long-lasting.
Dental implants are one of the best tooth replacement solutions since they offer these remarkable benefits:
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They help prevent bone loss in the jaw
Once placed, a dental implant will mimic a natural tooth root. The jawbone will eventually grow around the implant through osseointegration.
Because the dental implant acts like a natural tooth root, the jawbone will be stimulated every time you eat or rest your top teeth against the bottom ones. It will then respond by regenerating itself. Both of these will help prevent bone loss in your jaws.
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They can prevent changes in the shape of your face
Your teeth play an important role in supporting your facial structure. When you lose several teeth, you lose that support. This, in turn, will cause your face to change shape and make you look older.
Since implants provide similar support for your face as your natural teeth, they prevent your face from changing shape.
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They look and feel like natural teeth
Dental implants are aesthetically superior compared to bridges and dentures since they always stay in place and look and function like real teeth.
Your dentist will design each implant to match the color of the surrounding teeth and ensure it will fit perfectly in the gap. With a dental implant, you may even forget that you lost a tooth (or teeth) in the first place.
In addition, since dental implants are strong, you can practically eat anything. You won’t have to worry about biting into a steak or eating popcorn and nuts which can be problematic if you have dentures.
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They won’t affect the surrounding natural teeth
When a missing tooth is replaced with an implant-supported crown or bridge, the adjacent natural teeth do not need to be touched. This means that they will not be compromised or damaged during the process.
This is something that can happen when you opt for a traditional bridge. This tooth replacement option requires some grinding down of the adjacent teeth so that the bridge can be properly cemented on them.
Grinding down the adjacent teeth is a safe process. However, if the tooth that will undergo this process is already damaged and has not yet been restored, it is best to leave it that way. If the tooth is in any way altered, its long-term health may be compromised.
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They don’t slip or fall out easily
Since dentures can easily shift or slip, there is always a chance that they will fall out while you are talking, laughing, or eating in public. This is an embarrassing situation you can certainly avoid if you have implants.
This is because dental implants are securely anchored in place and, as such, will never fall out no matter how hard you laugh.
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They won’t impede your speech
Because dentures tend to slip within the mouth, they can cause you to have difficulties enunciating words. You will even mumble or slur your words often.
Dental implants won’t give you this problem because they always stay in place, and the artificial teeth would never slip out of place.
They are easy to maintain and clean
Taking care of your dental implants is practically the same as taking care of your natural teeth. This means brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once daily.
You don’t have to buy any special products such as cleansing tablets or flossers to clean or care for implants as well. Lastly, you don’t have to use adhesive to keep your dentures in place.
With dental implants, you can have a complete set of teeth again in no time. You will also enjoy better oral health and feel more confident about your smile.
To find out if dental implants are the best solution for your lost teeth, consult a cosmetic dentist now.