As a child, you looked forward to losing teeth, but as an adult, dealing with a missing tooth can be both embarrassing and uncomfortable. While no adult likes losing teeth, it’s far more common than you might think.
Believe it or not, more than 120 million people have at least one missing permanent tooth.
Luckily, you don’t have to settle for a gap in your smile. Dentures, bridges, and implants can all help restore your grin and give you a smile you can be proud of. They all work in different ways and dental implants are rapidly becoming the preferred way to deal with missing teeth.
Here’s what you need to know about the benefits of dental implants.
1. They’re Long-Lasting
Modern dental implant technology has greatly improved the quality and durability of the implants themselves. Once you get your implant, it can last for years without needing additional maintenance or care.
That said, you’ll still need to stay on top of your regular oral hygiene routine. This means brushing your teeth at least twice a day, flossing, and going to regular dental appointments.
If you don’t, your implant won’t last as long as it should. While it is possible to replace the cap, the rest of your teeth can suffer. Over time, this will put the stability and durability of your implant at risk.
2. Dental Implants Can Boost Self-Confidence
Missing permanent teeth cause a lot of anxiety for people of all ages. In fact, more than 25 percent of adults don’t like smiling because of the way their teeth look.
When you’re self-conscious about your grin, it can make interacting with others more difficult and keeps you from being able to enjoy your life.
Dental implants look and function like your regular teeth. The cap gets color-matched to the teeth around it and fills in the gaps you’re embarrassed by completely. Even better, people won’t be able to tell that you have an implant unless you tell them about it.
When you feel comfortable with the way your teeth look, you’ll be able to smile more often and be the happy person you’ve always wanted to be.
3. Implants Preserve Bone Health
The roots of your natural teeth do more than hold your teeth in place. They also help strengthen your jaw bone.
When you lose a permanent tooth, that section of bone can start to grow weaker. The longer you leave the missing tooth unaddressed, the more severe the bone deterioration will become.
Over time, this can threaten the strength and health of the rest of your permanent teeth.
Dental implants help strengthen the bone and keep your jaw in better shape. The post of the implant acts like the roots of the rest of your teeth and prevents deterioration over time.
4. They’re Low-Maintenance
Unlike dentures, implants are incredibly low-maintenance. Once they’re in place and the bone heals around the implant, it works just like the rest of your teeth.
All you have to do to keep it in good condition is brush regularly and schedule cleanings with your dentist. If anything does happen to the tooth, your dentist will be able to create a new cap to restore your smile.
When you rely on dentures, you have to clean them several times a day and take care to use the right type of adhesive to hold them in place. This can add several minutes to your morning and evening routines.
Worse, you’ll have to replace your dentures every few years. They get worn out and may no longer fit your mouth properly over time.
5. You Won’t Lose Them
Dental implants are permanent. Once your dentist puts it in place, you won’t have to worry about a thing.
You can eat with them, sleep with them in, and won’t run the risk of misplacing them like you would a set of dentures.
6. They Give You the Freedom to Eat What You Want
Think about the foods you love. Some are probably soft, but others are likely hard or crunchy. Those crunchy foods can spell serious trouble with dentures or dental bridges.
Dentures are only as secure as the adhesive you use. If you didn’t use enough or didn’t apply it correctly, your dentures could shift as you chew. This makes it hard to eat the foods you love.
Further, you might not have enough bite force to chew those hard foods. Your bite force can deteriorate the longer your mouth goes without its natural teeth.
With dental implants, you can eat what you want, when you want. Since dental implant technologies help strengthen your jaw bone and preserve the integrity of your surrounding teeth, you won’t have to worry about losing your chewing power!
7. They Won’t Hurt Your Surrounding Teeth
Partial dentures and dental bridges fill in the space created by missing teeth. However, they rely on the surrounding teeth to do the job.
Partial dentures have hooks that attach to the surrounding teeth to anchor the denture in place. Over time, this puts a strain on the surrounding teeth and increases the risk of breakage and damage.
Bridges require your dentist to alter the shape of the surrounding teeth to accommodate the artificial teeth and hold it in place. Any time you change the shape of your natural teeth, you increase the risk of damage and tooth decay.
Implants get placed directly into the jaw bone beneath the missing tooth. There’s no need to alter the surrounding teeth and the implant won’t put undue pressure on your natural teeth over time.
See the Benefits of Dental Implants for Yourself
You don’t have to settle for missing teeth or deal with discomfort when you chew. You just need to find the right way to replace those missing teeth.
While dentures and bridges are great and proven options, implants are often a better choice for most adults. They’re durable, permanent, and function just like your natural teeth.
If you’re ready to learn more about the benefits of dental implants or want to discuss your options, don’t wait. Request an appointment today and let us help restore your smile.