Do you have one or more missing teeth? You are not alone. Fortunately, dental implants can restore your smile.
Missing teeth are a common problem in the United States. In fact, an estimated 178 million Americans are missing at least one tooth and about 40 million are missing all of their teeth.
Having one or more missing teeth is a cosmetic issue that can prevent someone from smiling, laughing and talking with confidence. Worse still, the remaining teeth tend to drift into the gap left behind by the missing tooth, which causes unsightly spaces between teeth.
Lost teeth can also be a dental health issue, as missing teeth make it difficult to bite and chew food properly. Missing teeth can cause an improper bite, which can cause headaches and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain. Losing teeth in the rear upper jaw can allow the sinus cavity above to expand and erode the upper jawbone.
Dental implants are a permanent solution to the cosmetic and oral health issues associated with missing teeth. A dental implant helps repair your bite and chewing affected by a missing tooth and works as a placeholder that prevents nearby teeth from drifting into the gap left by a missing tooth. Best of all, dental implants can restore your confident smile.
About Digital Dental Implants and their Benefits
Although traditional dental implants give great results, digital dental implant procedures leave patients in less pain post-op. What’s the difference? A digital implant procedure involves a 3D simulation that checks your nerve position and bone condition, provides a guide for the oral surgeon, and allows for a smaller incision. That smaller incision significantly reduces the pain a patient may experience during recovery. Many dental professionals refer to this as a flapless, keyhole procedure.
Additionally, a digital dental implant is overall a faster treatment compared to conventional dental implants. This is due to the level of accuracy attained by the 3D simulation and planning that occurs ahead of time. This approach is also lower risk due to the level of preparation and digital imaging.
Generally speaking, dental implants provide a permanent solution to missing teeth. Just like natural teeth, dental implants have a root and a crown. During the dental implant procedure, an oral surgeon inserts a titanium rod into the jawbone. Over time, the jawbone bonds with the titanium to create a strong foundation for the artificial tooth. The rod acts as a root to hold the replacement tooth, known as the crown.
Dental implants offer a number of benefits over other tooth replacement solutions, including dentures, which tend to slip and slide – dentures can even fall out when you least expect it. Sliding dentures can make it difficult to eat certain foods, and some foods can even get under dentures to cause pain when you bite down. Poorly fitting dentures can cause you to mumble or slur your words, which can be embarrassing.
Unlike dentures, dental implants stay securely in place, even as you talk, laugh, bite, and chew. Food cannot slip under a dental implant, so you can eat comfortably. Because they become a part of you, dental implants eliminate the discomfort associated with removable dentures.
Dental implants also have advantages over dental bridges, which are tooth replacements anchored to the surrounding teeth. Dental bridges require removing a thin layer of enamel on the adjacent teeth to prepare them for holding the replacement tooth. Dental implants are supported by the titanium rod implanted in your jaw, so there is no need to shave down nearby teeth.
Perhaps the greatest benefits of dental implants are that they look and feel like your own natural teeth. The tooth root fuses with your bone, so dental implants are strong and secure. The materials used to make the crown look like natural enamel – nobody will ever know that the tooth is actually a dental implant. With proper care, your dental implants will look and feel great for decades.
For more information about the benefits of dental implants, contact Advanced Endodontics, Oral and Facial Specialists. Our multi-specialty practice strives to provide extraordinary care and excellent customer service. The dental professionals at Advanced Endodontics, Oral and Facial Specialists offer dental implants in addition to other advanced dental and surgical procedures.
