Do you struggle to chew or eat food due to missing teeth? Are you looking for an alternative to dentures? While there are a few dental treatments that will restore missing teeth, dental implants are the longest lasting restorative treatment for this common dental condition. They give you back the look and feel of natural teeth so that you can eat, speak and smile knowing worry-free.
When Missing Teeth Are Left Untreated
When missing teeth are left untreated, it can cause other dental issues that you may not have thought of. For one, the teeth adjacent to the missing tooth may start to shift out of position causing damage to those teeth, or complications with your bite. Furthermore, since the tooth root is absent, the jaw bone is no longer stimulated and will begin to shrink and cause it to become weak. In turn, a weakened jaw bone can negatively impact other teeth, as well. It’s a domino effect of poor dental health that can be avoided with dental implants.
Dental Implants to the Rescue
Unlike other missing tooth restoration methods, dental implants stimulate the jaw because they act as tooth roots. They are made of titanium and surgically implanted into the jaw bone. Overtime, they fuse to the jaw bone, which gives the implant a very sturdy and secure support for the artificial tooth, or the crown. Once the implant is placed, it becomes a permanent part of your mouth. Patients will enjoy the fact that they don’t have to think about removing a prosthetic nightly or have to replace their restoration down the road because dental implants, with proper care, can last decades if not a lifetime.
Other advantages of dental implants include:
- Look and feel just like natural teeth: Once the implant is placed, you will not notice the difference between it and your natural teeth. It is strong and durable, so it will not move. The crown is designed to look just like your natural teeth, as well; the color of the crown is matched to your other teeth and it will blend in without notice.
- Long-Term Success: When choosing a dental treatment, most patients would prefer to move forward with one that has a high success rate. It gives them the confidence that it will work for them, as well. Dental implants have a success rate of over 95%. Patients can be confident in this treatment.
- Preserve Oral Health: Not only do missing teeth pose a problem for oral health, but treatments like dentures, while they return the function and look of teeth, do not stimulate the jaw bone. The result will be an eventual deterioration of the bone.
We are happy to speak with patients in the Montgomery, AL area about dental implant treatments. Please call our office today to schedule your consultation.
