An increasing number of patients who have experienced tooth loss are turning to dental implants to restore their smiles. These devices can be used in a variety of tooth loss scenarios, as they can support a single crown, a dental bridge or an entire denture. Dental implants have a number of benefits for patients, including the following.
- Dental implants help to preserve jawbone stability. After the oral surgeon inserts the dental implant in the patient’s jaw, the surrounding bone forms a bond with the titanium implant, which makes it structurally similar to a biological tooth’s root. Therefore, a dental implant helps to secure the jawbone in the same way that a tooth’s root does. As a result, an implant-supported appliance is more durable and will not lose its fit as the jaw’s shape changes.
- Dental implants are nearly as effective at chewing as biological teeth are. That bond between the bone and the implant also facilitates chewing because the implant is capable of tolerating fairly strong forces. Patients who choose dental implants usually can continue to enjoy all of their favorite foods, within reason. Anything that could harm a biological tooth could also harm a dental implant.
- Dental implants are as comfortable as biological teeth. Because dental implants are structurally complete, they feel more lifelike. This is particularly noticeable for patients who get implant-supported dentures, which are far more comfortable and secure than their conventional counterparts.
- Dental implants are easy to maintain. With no connection to surrounding teeth to restrict access to the gumline, dental implant patients can brush and floss using their normal technique with no special tools required.
- Dental implants have no impact on surrounding teeth. In cases when dental implants are used to replace a single tooth or a small number of teeth in the same area, the implants are able to stand alone without support from surrounding teeth. In contrast, a conventional dental bridge requires crowns to be placed on adjoining teeth in order to support the pontic (prosthetic tooth). This process means that healthy tooth material is sacrificed, which can possibly weaken those teeth.
To learn more about the benefits of dental implants, schedule a consultation with one of our experienced and knowledgeable surgeons at Northern Texas Facial & Oral Surgery.
