Your teeth should last a lifetime. Unfortunately, disease, decay, and injury can result in tooth loss, making you look for dental implants in Emerson. Having a gap in your smile can negatively affect your self-esteem and confidence. Dental implants are second to none when you want to replace a missing tooth and score on appearance and functionality. Regardless of whether one or several teeth are missing, dental implants provide a low-maintenance and long-term solution with a natural smile and ability to chew and speak. At Emerson Dental Arts, Dr. Katz and his team are passionate about preserving your existing teeth. However, at times, trauma and disease can make it inevitable to lose your natural teeth. Below are the reasons why dental implants are the best option if you have missing teeth.
The Sensitivity of the Issue
Close to 178 million Americans have at least one missing tooth, while 40 million Americans do not have a single natural tooth. Gum disease, a leading cause of tooth loss, affects 15-20% of adults in the US hence the efforts to champion oral education.
Beyond the Tooth Loss
When you lose teeth, chewing and speaking can be a challenge. This can be seen from the outset, but tooth loss affects more than this—the jaw bone. Your teeth are firmly secured to your jawbone by the roots. When your jaw moves during speaking and chewing, this promotes good health to your jawbone so that it can continue supporting your teeth.
When you lose a tooth, the jawbone senses the reduced stimulation, making it send nutrients to enhance bone regeneration in the area where the gap is. When you have a gap between your teeth, the integrity of the surrounding teeth is also affected since they tend to shift towards the open space. Your facial appearance can suffer if your jawbone is damaged.
Down to the Bone
Dental implants closely resemble the structure of your natural teeth including root attachment to the jaw bone. Your dentist attaches a titanium root post into your jawbone, on which implants are attached. After the post has been inserted, it takes about three to six months before new bone tissue can grow and cover it. Once the implant is firm, a crown is placed on top. Your doctor ensures that the crown matches the color of your remaining teeth and has a perfect fitting. Dental implants also help prevent jaw bone loss.
An Immovable Object
Once your dentist fits your dental implants, you do not have to worry about your new set of teeth clicking, slipping, or moving when speaking or eating. Dental implants have the same feel and look as that of natural teeth, and daily care including flossing, brushing is no different. Your experienced dentist asserts that with proper fitting and maintenance, dental implants have a 98% success rate.
If you have a missing tooth, it is vital to have it replaced using dental implants. Schedule a consultation with your dentist to learn more about dental implants.
