In your research about dental implants, you’ve found that dental implants have many benefits. You likely already know that dental implants are the only replacement option to address the entire tooth’s structure, including the root. As a result, dental implants are more secure than dentures or bridges and can give you a stronger biting force to eat the nutritious foods your body needs. But dental implants have some benefits that you may not realize or expect to see at first glance.
HIGHER CONFIDENCE
With other tooth replacement options, specifically dentures, you can find yourself worrying that your artificial teeth will come loose while you’re eating dinner or talking with a friend. In fact, you can become so self-conscious that you shy away from social situations or from certain foods to avoid an embarrassing moment. Because dental implants become fully integrated with the jaw bone, they are firmly held in place, giving you nearly the same biting power as you had with your natural teeth. This means that you don’t have to worry about your replacement teeth slipping or coming loose. You can bite, chew, speak, smile, and laugh with complete confidence.
LOOK MORE YOUTHFUL
Losing a tooth can be devastating to your oral health, particularly your jaw bone, which relies on your teeth’s roots to remain stimulated. Over time, the jaw bone can start to deteriorate, and your facial structure can change in appearance as a result. In fact, the face can look saggy and significantly older because of this bone loss. Mimicking natural teeth’s roots, dental implants keep the jaw bone and surrounding tissues stimulated so you can retain your youthful facial shape.
PREVENT FUTURE TOOTH LOSS
Believe it or not, your teeth (or lack thereof) can affect each other. For example, if you lose a tooth and choose to have it replaced with a dental bridge, the two teeth surrounding the gap have to be reduced in order to accommodate the restoration. Consequently, they become more susceptible to decay. Plus, the jaw bone can weaken over time from a lack of stimulation, lessening the support it gives to your remaining healthy teeth. Ultimately, it could lead to additional tooth loss in the future.
However, if you opt to have your missing teeth replaced with dental implants, you bolster the jaw bone, helping it maintain its strong support for your other teeth. Also, you don’t have to remove healthy tooth structure to place or restore a dental implant, preserving the natural teeth around it for longer.
SAVE MONEY IN THE LONG RUN
Although dental implants have the highest initial cost out of all the tooth replacement options available, they also don’t need to be replaced nearly as often—or even at all. Dental implants have been known to last more than 30 years, whereas dental bridges and dentures need to be replaced about every five to ten years. When you tally up the total costs over time, you are likely to find that dental implants are the smartest financial investment that gives you the most benefits for your money.
Ultimately, you have the choice of whichever tooth replacement option you’d like, but with so many advantages, dental implants stand out among the rest and are difficult to ignore. Take some time to discuss dental implants in more detail with your dentist in Jacksonville. You may realize that they can provide everything you’re looking for in your beautiful, strong, and healthy restored smile.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Kathryn Ryan is a practitioner of prosthodontics – the branch of dentistry dealing with artificial teeth – and is a specialist in implant dentistry as well as reconstructive dentistry. She offers various treatments for missing or damaged teeth, such as dental implants, crowns and bridges, fillings, dentures, and full mouth reconstructions. To schedule an appointment at her practice, Parkway Prosthodontics, visit her website or call (904) 204-1628.