A dental implant is a replacement tooth that mimics your natural tooth structure. It consists of a titanium root inserted into your jawbone to support a crown, bridge, or denture. Implants are the most preferred tooth-replacement option over earlier treatments. And with modern innovations in dentistry, dental implants Irvine are now an option for patients who were once considered not eligible. Below are the main advantages of dental implants.
Function like your natural teeth
One significant upside of a dental implant is that it restores your full chewing power. That is because as your jawbone heals, it grows around the implanted screw-like titanium post, anchoring it securely in the jaw. The healing process or osseointegration takes about six to twelve weeks. Eventually, the implant fuses with your jawbone and becomes part of your mouth. The healing process makes the implant strong and functions like your natural teeth. Most people can hardly tell the difference between the implant tooth and their natural teeth.
Implants allow you to eat and chew as you would with natural teeth. You can also brush and floss normally, meaning they don’t affect your oral hygiene.
Improve your confidence
Missing teeth can blow your self-confidence since they affect your appearance and speech. You may avoid smiling or talking, so people don’t notice the gaps in your dental formula. This may affect your interaction with people and affect your quality of life. Additionally, missing teeth affect your pronunciation of certain words. And while dentures can restore your missing teeth, they often slip into the mouth, causing you to mumble or slur your words. But with implants, you can speak without worrying about your teeth falling.
Prevent bone loss
Your natural teeth stimulate the jawbone; this is vital in preventing bone loss. When you miss teeth, the jawbone in the space deteriorates due to lack of stimulation. Dental implants are the only replacement option that restores stimulation since they also replace your roots. The roots press on the jawbone as you chew, causing stimulation. Other replacement options don’t restore the roots and therefore don’t prevent bone loss.
Dentures can speed up bone loss since they eventually become loose and rub against the bony ridge, gradually causing wear. But an implant replaces the root and restores chewing to normal, offering the needed stimulation for natural bone growth.
Keep adjacent teeth stable
The adjacent teeth tend to shift towards the gap from a missing tooth. As a result, the teeth move out of position, affecting your bite, chewing ability, and appearance. The changes can also make tooth replacement difficult in the future. A poor bite also elevates your risk of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and may cause pain and headaches.
Durable
Dental implants are durable and can last a lifetime, unlike bridgework which may only last about ten years. The implant is made of titanium metal which is non-toxic and not rejected by the body; this makes implants a better replacement option.
To find out if you are a good candidate for dental implants, consult your dentist at Smile by Design Dental Group.
