Your teeth are designed to last a lifetime, but life often has different plans, and you may lose a tooth to decay, disease, or trauma. In fact, it’s estimated that a whopping 178 million Americans are missing at least one tooth. When it comes to replacement, more people are turning to dental implants, which mimic natural teeth right down to their roots. To give you an idea of why these replacement teeth are so popular, here’s a quick list of the many benefits of dental implants.
Dental Implants Replace the Roots of Your Teeth
The biggest advantage of a dental implant is that it replaces your original tooth, right down to its roots. When you lose a tooth, you lose far more than what you see above your gumline, namely, the roots that anchor your tooth into your jawbone.
Without these roots, your jawbone doesn’t register any activity and ceases to rebuild and remodel the bone tissue in the area. This can lead to bone loss in your jaw that causes your neighboring teeth to shift out of place, making your single missing tooth a potentially far bigger problem.
With a dental implant, a dentist places a new “root” into your jawbone in the form of a titanium post. Once implanted, your jawbone registers the post and grows bone up and around it, fusing it into place. By integrating an implant into your jawbone, you can preserve the integrity of your jawbone, which benefits all of your teeth.
Dental Implants Are Highly Versatile
Dental implants can fulfill many roles, including:
- Replacing a broken tooth or a fractured tooth that can’t be saved
- Replacing a decayed tooth that can no longer withstand dental work
- Replacing a tooth after a failed root canal procedure
- Replacing a missing tooth after a dental extraction
- Anchoring a bridge or dentures
This last point is one that’s worth exploring. If you have several missing teeth in a row, you may need a dental bridge or dentures. With dental implants, your dentist can secure these prosthetic devices more firmly in your mouth and avoid drilling into otherwise healthy teeth. Not to mention, implant-supported dentures are a more permanent option that don’t need to be removed each night.
Remember, not everyone is immediately eligible for dental implants, as patients will need to be in decent oral health and have sufficient jawbone density. That said, if you’re considering how to address your tooth loss, there is perhaps no better option for enjoying a healthy, whole, and functional smile once more.
About Our Practice
Dr. Tricia Mockler and our team have proudly served patients and families in Campbell and the surrounding area for several years. We’re excited to offer a wide variety of preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatment solutions, including dental implants. We’re also partnered with local specialists to ensure the whole process goes smoothly from start to finish. If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to get in touch with us to set up an appointment, you can reach out online or call today. Telephone: (408) 871-0877.