Why Dental Implants are the Best Choice for Replacing Missing Teeth
A gap-toothed grin can be adorable in a small child, but when it comes to adults, the effect is decidedly less charming. But missing one or more teeth is more than an aesthetic concern. If left unfilled, the space can affect the overall health and function of your mouth. That’s why over 3 million Americans have turned to dental implants — and this number continues to grow by a half million each year.
At Suburban Dental Allentown in Allentown, PA, board-certified dentists Stephen Charnitski, DMD, and Khushbu Kakadia, DMD, recommend dental implants to patients with missing teeth for several reasons. Read on to learn what they are.
The importance of replacing missing teeth
Accidents and gum disease can cause teeth to fall out. In fact, 35 million Americans are missing all their teeth in one or both jaws; millions more are missing just one or two teeth.
Your teeth work best as a set, relying on each other for support and function. A missing tooth can throw your whole line of teeth off balance for several reasons.
If your tooth is knocked out or succumbs to gum disease, the root that goes into your jawbone is also affected. It either decays or requires removal, which we can perform in our office.
Because your jawbone is living tissue that responds to use, it’s continually repairing and regenerating itself, ensuring the stability of your teeth. If left unused, the bone in your jaw where your tooth once was can begin to weaken and atrophy.
This, in turn, weakens the surrounding bone, and your existing teeth can begin to loosen and shift. In the final stages of this process, your jawbone begins to sink inward, which dramatically affects your outward appearance. This also puts your existing teeth at greater risk of decay and affects your ability to chew and speak normally.
Dental implants mimicking Mother Nature
A dental implant is an ingenious solution that mimics your natural tooth right down to the roots,
During the procedure, we implant a titanium post into your jawbone so your living bone tissue can grow around it and fully integrate it.
Once the implant fuses with your bone, we place a crown over the post and bond it in place, restoring a straight line of teeth that looks and functions just like your natural teeth.
Dental implants are not only great options for replacing missing teeth, but they also provide strong anchors for dental devices, such as bridges and dentures, giving them superior stability over traditional bonding methods.
Dental implants are a permanent solution
While dental implants offer superior stability designed to last a lifetime, though you may need to replace the crown at some point, which is an easy process.
To ensure its longevity, you can do your part at home by taking good care of your dental implant, brushing, flossing, and rinsing daily. This care, combined with your regular visits to us for check-ups and professional cleanings, will give you something to smile about for years to come.
To learn more about dental implants, contact us today.