Having a nice smile can make all the difference in the world when it comes to how you feel about yourself. In fact, many studies have shown that people with attractive smiles actually have more self-esteem and self-confidence than people who don’t. That’s why improving the appearance of your smile can quite literally improve the quality of your life overall. But having an attractive smile is next to impossible if you’re missing one or more teeth. Fortunately, modern dental technology provides an excellent way to replace missing teeth: dental implants.
An implant consists of a metal rod (typically titanium) that is inserted into the jawbone of the patient at the location of the missing tooth. Over a period of several months, the rod fuses to the bone tissue. This creates what is essentially an artificial tooth root. At that point, the dentist affixes a replacement tooth (typically a porcelain crown) to the top of the implant. The result is a tooth that looks and performs exactly the same as the patient’s other natural teeth. Best of all, implants can often last for a lifetime!
Here are just a few of the reasons why dental implants can be a life-changing choice for many dental patients:
- Getting a new dental implant is as close to getting a new natural tooth as dental technology will allow. Not only does an implant look exactly the same as the patient’s other teeth; an implant is just as strong as a natural tooth and functions exactly the same. Better yet is how an implant feels – many patients report that having an implant feels just like any other natural tooth.
- Dental implants don’t have the disadvantages of other tooth replacement options. There are other ways to replace missing teeth – such as dental bridges or partial dentures, for example. But these alternatives have some downsides. Bridges and partials can irritate the patient’s gum tissue, for example. Partials (which are removable by the patient) can slip inside the patient’s mouth, and involve special cleaning methods. Bridges usually require the patient to have anchoring teeth on each end of the appliance. Dental implants don’t require anchors, don’t slip or move around inside the patient’s mouth, can be cleaned by simply brushing and flossing, and don’t irritate the patient’s gums.
- Implants do more than restore the appearance of the patient’s smile – they also restore good oral health. Your natural teeth help to preserve the bone density of your jaw. Once you lose teeth (even just a single tooth), you become more susceptible to bone loss. Unlike other tooth replacement options, dental implants encourage bone growth and help to restore the density of the jawbone.
To find out more about dental implants and how they can change your life for the better, schedule an appointment with your dentist today.
