Tooth Replacement: Why Dental Implants Could Be Your Best Option

Americans lose an average of 12 teeth by the time they turn 50.

While proper oral hygiene can prevent many cases of tooth loss, some things are beyond our control.

Historically, the standard of care for tooth replacement was either a bridge, which involves altering two additional teeth or dentures, which come with many unpleasant effects.

Dental implants have become the most successful and preferred method of tooth replacement. Keep reading to find out why dental implants are your best option if you are missing teeth.

Dental implants are a popular choice for tooth replacement for a reason.

They are convincing and low maintenance. Keep reading for some of the top reasons why dental implants are the best choice for replacing your teeth.

Preventing Bone Loss

When a tooth is missing, there is more at stake than your smile.

Of course, the gap in your smile is a big deal, but there's danger lurking below the surface.

Losing your tooth also means losing your root. Your jawbone can lose significant volume as a result and will continue to deteriorate over time.

Dental implants act as a tooth all the way down to the root. This keeps your jaw bone healthy and even stimulates new bone growth.

Improved Speech

If you choose to go with dentures, you run the risk of speech difficulties.

Many with poor-fitting dentures experience trouble speaking because their dentures actually slip within their mouth. This causes them to slur their words or mumble.

Choosing a dental implant will prevent you from having to worry about speech issues.

Maintaining Function

When you're missing a tooth, the surrounding teeth are missing structure and support.

Your teeth work together and each tooth relies on its neighboring teeth. When you lose a tooth, the surrounding teeth will move into the empty space.

If you've had your teeth straightened, the work will come undone. As those teeth move from their ideal position your smile will change.

You can also have a hard time chewing and your bite alignment will be off. This can only be temporarily fixed without filling the empty space.

Getting a dental implant will allow your teeth to stay in place and you will avoid all of these problems.

A Natural Fit

When you get partial dentures, you sacrifice security and stability.

Dental implants involve anchoring a metal post into your actual jawbone. This creates a hold for your artificial tooth. Your jawbone will naturally grow up and around the metal post and will fuse it into place.

This makes it fit naturally, just like your own tooth.

Ability to Eat

Dentures tend to slide around and make eating difficult.

Because dental implants become one with your jawbone, they function like they are your own teeth. You can eat whatever you want without worrying.

You will feel confident and pain-free while you eat.

Longevity

Dental implants are a permanent fixture in your mouth because of the way your jawbone grows around them, fusing the implant into your bone.

Most other options for teeth replacement require periodic replacement, usually every 5-10 years. That's a lot of time and money.

For the most part, once your implant is done, you don't have to worry about it. It is possible that the crown will need replaced, but that is a minor procedure that will not take much time or money.

If you take care of your implant, it should last your lifetime.

Gum Health

Getting a dental implant benefits your gums as much as it does your jawbone.

When you have a missing tooth, you have a hole in your mouth, exposing your gums. When your gums are exposed like this, they are more likely to experienced trapped bacteria.

This bacteria can lead to gum or periodontal disease. Dental implants essentially act as a plug in this entry point for bacteria and protect your gums and their health.

Overall Oral Health

Alternatives to dental implants can compromise your oral health in a number of ways.

For one, tooth-supported bridges require reducing other teeth. Altering these teeth can lead to long-term effects on your oral health.

Implants do not require making any alterations to nearby teeth. When you get dental implants, you also have no trouble accessing the neighboring teeth in order to clean them.

It can be difficult to clean between teeth if you have a bridge.

Improved Appearance

Because dental implants fuse with your bone and become permanent, they are more convincing than alternatives like dentures.

Dental implants look and feel like actual teeth. It can also be embarrassing and an inconvenience to have to remove your dentures.

Since implants are permanent and natural looking, no one will ever suspect that you are missing a tooth.

Dentures tend to give themselves away, especially if they are removable. They also require adhesives to keep them in place that can be messy and inconvenient.

Improved Self-Esteem

Overall, dental implants are the best way to restore your smile and improve your self-esteem.

Dental implants are the most natural way to fill the gap left from a missing tooth. They will keep your other teeth in place and do not require any modifications to your other teeth.

When you go with a dental implant, it's basically the same as having your own tooth. You won't have to worry about your implant at all and you can rest easy knowing no one else can tell the difference.

If you are missing a tooth and are considering tooth replacement, a dental implant might be right for you.

Contact us here or schedule an appointment online.

We would be happy to answer any questions you have and help determine the best course of treatment for your individual circumstances.