There are many things that can damage a tooth beyond repair. Gum disease and cavities can result in decay. A horrible accident can knock out or chip a tooth or two.
No matter the cause, missing teeth
can hurt your self-confidence. Nobody likes showing off their pearly whites in
pictures if they don't like their smile.
Your dentist can correct the problem
with dental implants. Not only can they fill in the gaps where your missing
teeth once were, but they can keep your jawbone healthy.
They also cause less irritation than
dentures and other replacement methods. That's only the tip of the iceberg.
Keep reading for more reasons why you should consider getting implants.
1.
They Last a Lifetime
Time is not on the side of many
tooth replacement options. As they age, dentures will begin to loosen. After a
while, they may start to slip out as you eat and talk.
When that happens, the only thing
you can do is head to the dentist to have them replaced with a pair that fit.
Bridges tend to suffer similar wear and tear after a while. The bridge that
houses the teeth will start to come loose.
Implants are a permanent part of
your smile that stays sturdy no matter what the years have to throw at them. As
long as the dental implant procedure goes well, you won't have to go in for a
single replacement.
2.
They Can Prevent Bone Loss
The thing about your jawbone is that
it needs some kind of stimulation. It can't get that if you have missing teeth.
After a while, the bone will begin to deteriorate.
This deterioration will cause your
facial shape to shift. Dentures and bridges can't give the bone the
stimulation that it needs to stay healthy.
Dental implants do. When your
dentist prepares the site for the implant to go into, they drill into the bone.
As the healing process goes on, the
bone will grow around the implant the same way it does with your regular
teeth. This will keep your jaw nice and strong.
3.
They Cause Less Irritation
Dentures and bridges aren't
comfortable. Dentures sit right on top of the gums and cause painful
friction.
Not only is the friction
uncomfortable, but it can cause ulcers. Implants mimic your natural teeth in
that they rest inside the jawbone. After you get through the healing process,
you'll forget that they're even there.
4.
You Can Eat Whatever You Want
Probably the best thing about
implants is that you can eat whatever you feel like eating. There are no
dietary restrictions to worry about at all.
You have to worry about your
dentures falling out while you eat. They also don't have a lot of chewing
power.
Implants are made with a strong
titanium alloy. They can take whatever you throw at them without chipping or
falling apart.
5.
Implants Don't Wear on Your Natural Teeth
Bridges rely on surrounding teeth to
fill in gaps. When and if something happens to those supporting teeth, your
dentist will have to take the bridge out.
Bridges can also cause plaque to
build up, which can lead to tooth decay. Dentures aren't much better.
Partial dentures put so much
pressure on your natural teeth that they can loosen them. If you aren't
careful, you may experience tooth decay.
Dental implants don't rely on your
remaining natural teeth. Since there's no pressure on them, you don't have to
worry about them taking on damage.
6.
They Look and Feel Like Regular Teeth
Your dental implants will look like
your natural teeth down to color. Nobody will be able to tell that they're
implants.
They fit in your mouth without
leaving the slightest gap, and that will never change. They won't come loose or
shift.
They'll function the same way as
your other teeth. Again, you can bite into a hard apple without any
consequences.
7.
They're Easier to Clean
You will need to clean your
implants. Since they're made with metal, you won't have to deal with tooth
decay if you don't, but you can still get gum disease.
The good news is that implants
aren't difficult to clean. You can brush and floss the same way you would your
natural teeth.
As far as dentures go, you have to
follow a strict cleaning regimen. If you slip up, they can gather some pretty nasty
odors.
8.
Cost
We won't lie. The cost of dental
implants can take an impressive toll on your wallet. The upfront price is much
more expensive than dentures and bridges.
Once you deal with that cost,
however, that's it. They don't require refittings the same way that dentures
do. Implants will stay in great condition as the years go on.
9.
Implants Make It Easier to Talk
Having missing teeth makes it
difficult to pronounce certain words. When you have dentures, you have to worry
about them falling out when you speak. Implants are anchored in, so you'll
be able to talk just fine.
If you want to know more about
implant dentistry before you go in for the procedure, you can find out here.
Reasons
Why You Need Dental Implants
Having missing teeth can cause your
self-esteem to plummet. You can fix the problem with dentures and bridges, but
they can cause their fair share of issues.
While the price of dental implants
can be expensive, they're better for your mouth. They keep your jawbone and
remaining teeth healthy, and they look great!
For more tips that will keep your pearly whites going strong, visit the Health section of our blog for all the latest news.
