If you have lost any teeth or have badly damaged teeth, you have several restorative treatment options available to you. You may have thought that dental implants are deemed ideal, but you may be wondering if dental implants are right for me. You may be considering replacing your missing tooth or teeth. The popular treatments are dental implants, dentures, and bridges.
Missing Tooth
Dental implants are often recognized as the most natural way to replace missing teeth. They offer patients several advantages over traditional options for replacing missing teeth. A smile gap is more than just an aesthetic problem, as it can lead to further decay and bone loss. Implants help maintain bone tissue and stimulate new tooth formation, preventing facial recession and reducing the risk of dental diseases and further tooth loss. Dental implants also prevent remaining natural teeth from moving, preserving your jaw and the shape of your mouth.
Make Your Life Easy
Almost everyone who buys dentures is rarely satisfied. They are challenging to fit correctly and often break or slip. Many people have to use a daily adhesive to keep them in place. Dentures are uncomfortable and incredibly difficult to work when you are used to regular teeth. When a tooth is extracted, that area weakens over time. By placing an implant in its place, you have the opportunity to preserve the bone that is not only necessary but also helps prevent any further damage. As you can imagine, when you are missing teeth or bone, it becomes increasingly difficult to speak naturally and chew food in general. Implants help prevent this from becoming a problem.
Save Remaining Teeth
When an implant is placed, the bone’s density and integrity are maintained, and the impact on the surrounding teeth is shallow. A bridge uses two or more teeth to fill in a missing area and can result in unnecessary drilling of those teeth. If something happens to any of the regular teeth after the process, the entire bridge usually has to be removed. A denture uses the remaining teeth as a support, which can cause gum problems and put undue pressure on the natural teeth. An implant stands on its own without putting pressure on the surrounding teeth with its position, as natural enamel would. Unlike in dental implants, it is not necessary to touch any of the remaining teeth.
Final Thoughts
When you receive an implant, there is no need to change your dental hygiene routine to care for your tooth. Simple brushing, flossing, and frequent rinsing ensure that your implant, as well as your teeth, are protected against decay and look great. Other treatment alternatives, such as removable dentures or bridges, require special lotions and tweezers or must be massaged immediately into a jar, resulting in losing one or more teeth.