If you’ve lost teeth for any reason, it’s important to replace them as soon as possible to avoid damaging your mouth and jawbone. Without all your teeth, chewing and eating can destabilize your bite and cause you discomfort. Shifting teeth and bone loss can make your face appear sunken and aged. Your speech can be affected when missing teeth cause your remaining teeth to shift out of position. And losing a tooth can affect your ability to properly care for your smile by making it difficult to brush and floss effectively. You can avoid all these issues with a permanent solution, i.e., dental implants.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are small titanium posts that are surgically placed into the jawbone where teeth are missing. Once the bone bonds with the implant, a crown will be affixed to the implant to replicate your missing tooth or teeth. The crown is customized to match the color and shape of your surrounding teeth for a natural-looking smile.
Although implants are permanent restorations, they still require the same amount of care as your natural teeth. You should continue to brush twice a day and floss daily to keep your teeth and gums healthy. You should also visit your dentist regularly for cleanings, examinations, and oral cancer screenings.
Specifics and requirements for dental implant surgery will vary from patient to patient depending on their jaw health, the number of teeth they need to be replaced, and the type of implant being used. Your dentist will work with you to determine the best treatment plan for your individual needs.
The Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants are a great tooth replacement option for patients who need one or more teeth replaced, such as in a dental implant bridge or dental implant denture. Here are some of the benefits that implants offer over alternative restorations.
Aesthetics: While other restoration options, such as dental crowns or bridges, are certainly able to restore the aesthetic of a smile, they typically only do so for people who only have minor problems with their teeth. If teeth are severely damaged, or the gums have receded too far for traditional treatments to work, then an implant may be the best option.
Durability: When missing teeth are not replaced, the jawbone slowly deteriorates over time due to a lack of stimulation from the roots. This can become a problem for people who want to replace their dentures with a more permanent option like a bridge. With proper oral hygiene and regular professional cleanings, patients can rest assured that their new smile will last for many years to come!
Comfort: Dentures and partials are notoriously uncomfortable to wear because they are constantly shifting and moving out of place. This can be distracting for patients and even cause them to slur their words while speaking. But with an implant-supported denture, patients can feel confident that their bite will stay in its natural position, allowing them to speak clearly and enjoy their favorite foods with ease.
Want to know more about our procedures? Call us at (225) 673-0445 or schedule an appointment online to consult our dentist at Prestige Dentistry, 38585 Hwy. 42, Prairieville, LA 70769.