Missing teeth can get in the way of your self-confidence and affect how you perceive yourself. That would be bad enough, but missing teeth can also affect your jaw muscles, face shape, speech, and even your ability to chew food properly. Missing teeth that are not replaced can affect the alignment of your remaining teeth and generally negatively impact your oral and general health.
Dental implants are an excellent way to safeguard your oral — and overall! — health, and are an effective, permanent, safe, and painless way to restore your smile.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are made of titanium and placed in your jaw by a suitably qualified dentist. It is a minor day procedure just like taking a tooth out. Once completely healed in the bone a tooth can then be placed on it. The same process can be done for a single tooth or multiple teeth or all the teeth in a jaw. If all teeth in a jaw are missing then an All on 4 or All on X implant treatment is performed.
Fixed Dental Bridgework
Bridgework is used when multiple teeth are missing and in need of replacement. These bridges are attached to implants that have been placed in the jaw and do not require the support of remaining teeth the way standard dental bridgework does.
Implant-Secured Dentures
A full plate of dentures can be affixed to implants in either or both the upper or lower jaw and are an excellent alternative to traditional removable denture plates. Full-arch dentures can be attached to two, four, or six implants in the jaw and are secure and permanent.
Caring For Dental Implants
Implant-supported dentures are an excellent choice for various reasons. They are more secure than traditional dentures, feel more natural, and require removal for care and cleaning. Because of this, there is no worry about dropping and damaging or breaking dentures, misplacing them, or other mishaps that can occur with removable dentures.
Proper care of dental implants involves nothing more than treating them as you would your natural teeth. Practice good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing twice daily, limiting the consumption of citrus fruits, avoiding sugary and extremely chewy or sticky foods, limiting tea, coffee, wine, and soft drink consumption, and refraining from smoking.
As with natural teeth, dental implants still require regular visits to your dentist.
Why Dental Implants May Be Right For You
Damaged or missing teeth can ruin your confidence and overall health if not treated appropriately. Dental implants are an excellent way to replace one or more teeth permanently and securely. Dental implants look and feel more natural, do not require the special care that traditional dentures do, and can help you safeguard your oral and overall health.
Missing teeth can cause a person’s remaining teeth to shift, which can place them at risk of loss as well. Gaps in a person’s teeth can also cause loss of muscle tone and affect the shape of the face. This can cause changes in speech and make normal chewing and eating painful or difficult.
Speak With Your Dentist About Dental Implants
Even people with shallow jawbones or poor bone density can be good candidates for dental implants. Speak with your dentist or another oral healthcare provider about different dental implant types and which may be a good option for your specific needs. Your dental professional will be able to perform a complete exam and assessment and provide you with a plan for restoring your smile, confidence, and health in a secure, permanent, and pain-free way. Contact us today!
