Less than half of all American adults have all their natural teeth, which means more than half are missing at least one tooth. While that’s an interesting statistic, if you’re missing one or more teeth, it doesn’t help you feel any more confident or comfortable about your smile.
At Park Place Smiles in Glendora, California, Minal Patel, DDS, often recommends state-of-the-art dental implants to replace missing teeth in patients. A dental implant requires several visits, but the end result is worth it.
Here are five reasons why dental implants can be a great choice for restoring your smile.
While dentures can slip and slide at the most embarrassing times, dental implants stay secure, thanks to the embedded posts. And since they won’t slide, you don’t have to worry about sore spots that dentures can sometimes cause.
Secured by the embedded post, dental implants feel just like your natural teeth, and they “work” like your natural teeth, too. That means they’re more comfortable and feel natural, helping you feel confident about your beautiful smile.
Both bridges and dentures have special care routines that need to be followed, but dental implants can be cared for just like you care for your other teeth. Regular brushing, flossing, and routine dental cleanings keep your implants and the gums surrounding them healthy and sound.
Sticky foods can “catch” in bridges, and hard or chewy foods can break bridges and dentures, too. Plus, with dentures, there’s always the risk of having food particles get trapped between the denture and your gums or palate. Dental implants let you eat whatever you like, including corn on the cob, fresh apples and carrots, and even chewy bagels.
Natural teeth are held in place by tooth roots, and the roots in turn are secured by the jaw bone. Like other bone tissue, your jawbone is continually replacing old or damaged tissue with new, healthy tissue, a process that’s triggered by stimulation provided by the tooth root.
When a tooth is gone, the root is gone, too, and that means the jawbone replacement cycle slows down dramatically. Eventually, the bone in that area thins out. Over time, the neighboring roots can loosen, and the teeth on either side of the missing tooth can fall out.
With dental implants, the post acts like an artificial root, providing the simulation of the bone replacement cycle needed to keep your jawbone healthy. Crowns, dentures, and bridges rest on top of your gums, so they can’t prevent bone thinning.
Missing teeth are more than a cosmetic issue. Even a single missing tooth can alter your bite balance and increase your risks of other oral health problems in the future. To learn more about implants and how they can help you, call 626-226-1802 or book an appointment online with us at Park Place Smiles today.
