5 Reasons Dental Implants are Superior to Other Teeth Replacement Options
Unless you’re a kid with visions of the tooth fairy, losing a tooth is an upsetting experience. The good news is dental implants can help. Here are five reasons you should consider implants to restore your smile.
About half of all American adults — 120 million men and women — are missing at least one tooth, and roughly 36 million have no teeth at all. Missing teeth don’t just detract from your smile — they can increase your risk of other health problems, too.
Located in the Mid Wilshire neighborhood of Los Angeles, our team at Wilshire Park Dental Group helps restore your teeth, your smile, your oral health, and your confidence with our state-of-the-art dental implants. Whether you’re missing one tooth, a few teeth, or all your teeth, here are five reasons why you should consider beautiful, durable dental implants.
They’re more secure
Unlike dentures that rest on top of your gums or bridges that attach to the teeth on either side, a dental implant uses a titanium post that’s embedded in your jaw bone. The post is secured to an “artificial tooth” or crown via a piece called an abutment.
That attachment means you don’t have to worry about dentures slipping when you’re talking or eating, and you also don’t have to worry about the sore spots (and infections) that slippage and rubbing can cause. While bridges require the teeth on either side to be shaved down, implants don’t damage the neighboring teeth at all.
They’re more comfortable
Security isn’t the only benefit of a dental implant’s “natural tooth” design. Because of the way dental implants are shaped and fitted, they’re also more comfortable than dentures.
You don’t need to deal with sticky adhesives, and you don’t have to worry about tiny food particles getting trapped under a denture plate or bridge. (Bonus: While you can’t always eat what you want with dentures and bridges, with implants, you can eat whatever you normally eat.)
They look completely natural
Our team uses state-of-the-art techniques and materials to ensure the crown portion blends in beautifully with your surrounding teeth. The crown is expertly shaped for optimal symmetry, and tinted to match your natural tooth shade. That means when you’re out with friends, family, or colleagues, people will notice your naturally beautiful smile.
They’re easier to care for
Dentures and bridges take some extra care to keep them in good shape. The teeth and gums around them often need a little extra attention, too.
Because implants are designed like your natural teeth, they can be cared for like your natural teeth, too. Regular brushing and flossing to keep your gums and neighboring teeth healthy coupled with regular dental exams are all you need to maintain your implants along with your beautiful smile.
They may help prevent future tooth loss
Your teeth depend on healthy jaw bone to stay secure. And just like bone in any other part of your body, your jaw bone constantly replenishes itself, replacing old jaw bone tissue with healthy new bone cells.
But that replacement cycle doesn’t happen automatically. Your jaw depends on continual stimulation by the tooth roots. Once a tooth is missing, the jaw bone in that area doesn’t receive the necessary stimulation. That means the bone replacement cycle can significantly slow down, resulting in thin, weak areas of your jaw.
This can cause the teeth on either side of the gap left by your missing tooth to weaken, too. Dentures and bridges won’t help — they rest on top of the gums. But implant posts act like a natural tooth root, stimulating your jaw bone and supporting the normal bone replacement cycle.
Don’t ignore that missing tooth
Even a single missing tooth can lead to additional tooth loss and increase your risk of other oral health problems. Dental implants offer a beautiful, long-lasting solution for missing teeth, restoring your smile and your confidence, too.
To learn more about dental implants, call us or book an appointment online with our team at Wilshire Park Dental Group today.