Have you recently lost a tooth?
Missing a tooth isn’t great aesthetically or functionally. Losing confidence in your smile can hurt your self-esteem. A gap between teeth feels uncomfortable and may compromise your dental health.
About 120 million people in the United States have at least one tooth missing due to decay, injury, or periodontal disease. In the past, the only treatment options available were dentures and bridges. But today, there’s another option for tooth replacement that’s gaining ground: dental implants.
A dental implant is a titanium rod surgically inserted into the jawbone. Over time, it will fuse with the jaw and function like a natural root that would later support a crown.
This state-of-the-art dental technology is the preferred method by dentists and oral surgeons. Here are three reasons why dental implants are the best option to replace missing teeth.
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Among the Tooth Replacement Options, Dental Implants Feel the Most Natural
Natural teeth have roots that anchor them to the jawbone. A dental implant acts the same way. The metal used for implants is titanium, which has the unique ability to fuse to living bone.
When you lose a tooth, the jawbone loses the stimulation from the root. As a result, the body will start to shift the bone minerals from the jaw to other parts of the body, causing the jawbone to shrink. Unlike dental implants, dentures and bridges can’t replicate the stimulation needed to keep the jaw healthy.
Once the titanium rod has completely fused with the jawbone over several months, it’ll feel natural to you. It won’t move or slip and will also prevent the remaining teeth from shifting. The implant tooth will also be virtually identical in looks to natural teeth.
Even if the tooth replacement cost is on the pricier side, patients prefer dental implants because they look and feel natural.
Also, the Most Convenient
The great thing about dental implants is that you don’t need to do anything different to care for them. Do you already brush and floss as you’ve been doing since you were a little kid? Then just continue with this basic oral hygiene regimen, and you’ll be fine.
You don’t have to suffer the embarrassment of removing dentures and soaking them in a glass overnight. There’s also no need for special creams or messy adhesives.
The only thing to watch out for is gum disease that may compromise the implant. However, you can easily prevent this with good oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist.
Dental Implants Can Last a Lifetime
As mentioned in this article, wearing dentures for a long time may cause the jawbone to shrink and lose mass. If this happens, the dentures will no longer fit and need replacement or adjustment.
Dental bridges can last between five to seven years or more than ten years with good oral hygiene and professional cleanings. While their durability is decent, they don’t compare to dental implants that have a thirty-year survival rate of over 90 percent. The titanium implant can never decay.
Preserve Your Smile With Dental Implants
Dental implants are currently the tooth replacement method of choice among dentists and most patients. They look and feel natural, are easy to care for, and are very durable.
With dental implants, you can protect your smile for many years.
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