When it comes to maintaining your smile, practicing good oral hygiene on a daily basis becomes essential. Your teeth and gums will benefit, and you’ll be able to share that smile with confidence. All too often, however, issues arise and lead to the need for dental solutions to keep your smile intact and also keep your teeth functioning at their best.
Fortunately, today you have options. New technology continues to provide beneficial, long-lasting solutions for patients, and one of those options is dental implants. These implants can help improve the appearance of your smile while also restoring tooth functionality.
What Exactly is a Dental Implant?
A dental implant is a replacement for a natural tooth and functions in much the same way. After undergoing a three-step procedure, it will blend in with the rest of your teeth, and you’ll rarely even notice or feel a difference.
To gain a clearer understanding of what a dental implant is, it helps to know the process needed to add it to a patient’s mouth. It all starts with your dentist preparing the area for the procedure.
Once ready, an artificial root made of titanium, looking much like a screw, is implanted or inserted into the jaw bone below the space of the missing tooth. This titanium screw will now serve as the new tooth root.
Your dentist will then allow ample time for your jaw to accept this new addition and let the surrounding areas fully heal. The titanium root is bio-compatible, which means it is non-toxic and therefore, the body won’t quickly reject it.
Once everything looks well, a connector or abutment will be set in place above that titanium screw anchor. The last step will be the fitting of a new dental crown, creating a permanent tooth for you to use without worry. This implant and crown combination will remain stable for a long time, possibly even a lifetime.
If you need more than one or have a row of teeth that need replacing, the implanted titanium root can also support a dental bridge or denture.
The Top 4 Benefits of Dental Implants
There are numerous benefits to choosing dental implants, including the following top four.
1. Dental Implants Act Like Your Natural Teeth
Dental implants are the wave of the future when it comes to creating a natural look and feel that enhances your smile and allows you to enjoy all your favorite foods without worry. In other words, your dental implant will act like your own natural teeth in all important ways.
You will also be able to continue your normal dental hygiene routine, brushing and flossing daily in the same manner as before. No special treatments are required.
Patients who choose dental implants often claim they experience no difference between their own natural teeth and the implanted ones, making it a seamless experience.
2. Dental Implants Help Prevent Bone Loss
The roots of your teeth keep the jaw bone stimulated as you chew and, in turn, prevent continual bone loss. When you have missing teeth with roots no longer embedded in the jaw, that empty space eventually deteriorates due to this lack of stimulation.
As a result, the bone loses its strength, and this can affect facial structure, including the sinking and sagging of cheeks and mouth corners.
By placing dental implants in these areas, you continue stimulating the jaw and therefore maintain the stimulation required to continue natural bone growth.
3. Dental Implants Stabilize Adjacent Teeth
If you experience one or more missing teeth, the adjacent teeth will begin to move, drift, or shift towards that open gap. This shifting pulls the teeth out of their natural alignment and positioning, and this can negatively affect your bite.
A poor bite will impact your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and the attached muscles, potentially leading to increasing pain and chronic headaches. It can also affect your chewing ability and alter your appearance.
If left to continue shifting, these adjacent teeth may also begin to loosen, requiring quick attention to save them.
Dental implants can keep those adjacent teeth stable, prevent misalignment from occurring, and limit the risk of creating hidden crevices for tooth decay to take over.
4. Dental Implants are Long Lasting
Since dental implants are inserted into the strong jaw bone, they provide long-lasting wear and allow you to live your life with less worry about continual care and replacement.
There is, however, the possibility that the topping crown may need replacing at some point. You can make it last longer by continuing your daily dental care routine of brushing and flossing and scheduling regular professional cleanings with your dental hygienist.
Also, keep in mind that, like your natural teeth, dental crowns can still crack under pressure, such as when chewing on ice or biting down on hard items such as nuts or hard candy.
Find Out if Dental Implants Are an Option for You by Contacting South Dayton Smiles Today
If you or your family member is currently experiencing dental problems or are already missing one tooth or more, South Dayton Smiles is here to help. We gladly take the time to get to know our patients and work together to find the best possible solutions for any dental need. Contact us today to learn more about dental implants or schedule an appointment for a consultation, cleaning, or exam.