Tooth loss can happen in a heartbeat or it can take years. Regardless of why you’ve lost one or more teeth, you’re in good company. Around 178 million Americans are missing at least one tooth.
Tooth loss can make anyone self-conscious while causing other problems too. Instead of grinning and bearing it, try filling in your gap with a dental implant.
While they require minimally invasive surgery, there are many benefits of dental implants that are well worth the procedure.
1. Natural Look
When a dental implant is done well, you could never tell a visual difference between the implant and your natural teeth. When you flash your smile it looks like you have a mouth full of healthy teeth.
Dental implants are custom-made to match your teeth. They fit the space you have and mirror the color and look of your other teeth.
2. Easy Maintenance
Dentures and partial dentures are common solutions for tooth loss, but maintenance can be irritating. You need to take them out every day to clean them, make sure they continue to fit right, find a way to keep them in place, and so on.
Dental implants are as easy as it gets with maintenance. You care for them the same way you care for natural teeth. You brush them twice each day, floss them every day, and visit your dentist for cleanings every six months.
3. No Side Effects of Missing Teeth
As you learn more about dental implants, you discover more and more problems they solve. Missing teeth aren’t only cosmetic.
When you’re missing teeth, your bite can put unbalanced pressure on your other teeth and lead to soreness. Tooth loss can also make your jawbone less stable in addition to causing speech problems.
Dental implants mimic your natural teeth by replacing the root as well as the visible part of the tooth. This strengthens your jaw, normalizes your bite and your speech, and reduces other potential problems from tooth loss.
4. Long-Term Effects
Day-to-day dental care isn’t the only maintenance concern people have with dental implants. Many know that dental fillings and crowns don’t last forever, so they worry about replacing their implants often too.
A dental implant consists of two parts: the titanium implant that binds with the jawbone and the visible crown that looks like a tooth. The implant portion is the part that requires surgery.
Fortunately, your titanium implant is likely to last a lifetime. The crown often needs a replacement after 15-20 years. However, that is a simple, quick procedure with no need for surgery.
Enjoying the Benefits of Dental Implants
Tooth loss seems like a mild problem when it comes to your health, but it can have far-reaching effects. The lowered self-esteem alone is impactful, not to mention the potential bite problems and speech irregularities.
The benefits of dental implants cover all those problems. When your procedure is done, no one will have any hint that you’ve lost a tooth.
For more insights into dental implants and other ways to improve your life, check out more articles on our blog.
It’s incredible how dental implants are made to mimic your tooth’s appearance for a natural smile. I’ve been looking around for advice for my uncle, who lost some of his teeth from an accident. I hope he’d consider visiting a dentist for this procedure if he’s interested.