ARE DENTAL IMPLANTS RIGHT FOR YOU?
If you have recently had an accident in which a tooth or teeth have been knocked out, or a tooth or teeth have fallen out, it’s important to set an appointment with a dentist as soon as possible for a replacement. If your dentist needs to extract a tooth or teeth, they will discuss the different replacement options that are available. One option that may be available to you for the replacement of a tooth or teeth is dental implants.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are prosthetics that are held in place by a titanium rod, via an abutment. There are different options for implants depending on the needs of the patient, but often times the patient will simply have a single implant placed to replace a single tooth.
Do I Need an Implant?
It is extremely important to replace a tooth that is missing. If the gap is left unattended, it can cause a variety of oral health issues, including:
- Gum Disease
- Bone Loss
- Tooth Decay
- Teeth Migration
- Impacted Teeth
When there is a gap in your smile where a tooth or teeth used to be, your healthy, surrounding teeth will often migrate and fill in the gap. This can make chewing and speaking difficult. It can also make it much easier to develop gum disease and tooth decay. The bone loss that is caused to the jawbone can also affect your speech, and the overall look of your face. It is extremely important for your overall oral health to have a tooth or teeth replaced.
What Are the Advantages of Implants?
On top of the oral health benefits that a dental implant provides, implants have many other advantages. One major advantage is how similar they look to natural teeth. Because of the material that is used to create the false tooth, the implant will often go unnoticed to people you meet. Even your friends and family may not notice!
Dental implants also provide a level of durability that other replacement options cannot provide. Because the titanium rod is installed into the jawbone, it provides strength and support when you bite. This allows you to chew much like you did before the tooth was removed or fell out. Finally, an implant helps to keep the jawbone strong. If a tooth is not replaced, the jawbone will begin to deteriorate. With the placement of an implant, your jawbone will stay strong.
Am I a Candidate for Implants?
While implants are an excellent replacement option for patients that have lost a tooth or teeth, they are not the right option for all patients. Some patients are unable to have the titanium rod or rods placed because their jawbone is too weak. For these patients, a bone graft may be an option—but it isn’t always guaranteed to work.
Set an appointment for a consultation about your replacement options if you are missing a tooth or teeth. They will determine whether or not you are a candidate for dental implants to be placed.
Interested in learning more about Drs. Leal, Spangler, and Johnson and their dental implant process? Call today and setup your consultation.
Just looking for more information about dental implants in general? Here's reading on the differences between immediate and delayed dental implant placement.