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The best solution for simulating the look, feel, and function of natural teeth is dental implants. Dental implants do substantially more than replace missing teeth. They help maintain and strengthen bone structure, provide the ability to chew healthy food, and give patients the confidence to smile. They also protect existing teeth by helping to preserve and maintain bone structure.
Once a tooth is lost, several things begin to happen that are often not immediately noticeable to a patient and which may have a significant negative effect on both health and appearance. Tooth roots help hold teeth in place, but they are also essential in maintaining health in the surrounding gums and supporting bone structures. Bone loss in the jawbone is an important problem that naturally occurs once a tooth is lost. This bone loss can compromise the integrity of adjacent tooth roots and tooth stability, and it is also a large part of what causes the “sunken” look that is seen in people who have lost many or all of their teeth. It is the reason patients who wear dentures find that over time their dentures are more difficult to fit and keep in place.
Dental implant placement can help create bone growth in the area around the implant, which not only strengthens the bone and builds support, but can also alleviate the sunken look that may occur with bone loss in the jaw. This process is known as osseointegration and is a major benefit of implant placement because it can also help prevent future bone loss.
Although having a beautiful smile and the confidence that comes with it are important, there are also several important health reasons to have dental implants. Whether replacing one tooth or several, dental implants are an important solution to restoring and maintaining dental health.