5 Advantages Of Dental Implants

When it comes to replacing missing teeth, people have several different options. Partial bridges or dentures have been around for a while, but more and more people are turning to dental implants to deal with missing teeth. Dental implants have several advantages over other options, such as the following:

Protect Bone Health

Teeth are connected to the jaw bone, so when a tooth is knocked out or extracted, the bone in the jaw can begin to deteriorate. This can cause the jaw to be weaker and less firm, and may also change the look of a person's face and smile. With dental implants, a small metal rod is actually inserted into the jaw bone mimicking how a tooth would sit in the jaw. This can actually stimulate bone growth if the tooth has been missing for a while or prevent bone loss in people who have not been missing a tooth for long.

Low Maintenance 

Dental implants typically require several appointments to be properly inserted, but once an implant is in place, it is very low maintenance. Unlike partial dentures or bridges, dental implants don't require any special cleaning or soaking. All a person with one or more dental implants has to do is brush, floss, and have regular cleanings at the dentist. 

No Difficulty Eating or Speaking

Wearing partial dentures or bridges can include an adjustment period where it can be difficult to speak clearly or eat normally without issues. This is not a problem with dental implants, since they are inserted in the jaw and function much the same as a natural tooth while also feeling like a natural tooth.. 

Preserve the Health of Other Teeth

Tooth-supported bridges are often used as a means to replacing a missing tooth, but this procedure involves grinding down the teeth on either side of the tooth that is missing so the bridge can be properly placed. Dental implants deal only with the area of the missing tooth, and no other teeth in the mouth have to be grinded or sanded in order to insert an implant. 

Improved Self-Esteem

Missing teeth can make a person feel self conscious or embarrassed about his or her smile. Dental implants provide a long-term solution for missing teeth that creates a natural looking smile. Implants are designed to look as much like natural teeth as possible, and the procedure to place dental implants make them sit in the mouth just like natural teeth.