There are a lot of reasons to replace missing or damaged teeth with dental implants. Healthy teeth allow you to chew, smile, speak, and to keep facial tissues and muscles in their correct position. The absence of a tooth leads to changes in your remaining teeth and can even affect the look of your face.
Today’s dental implants look, feel, and work just like natural teeth. They can improve your oral health and your smile for the rest of your life.
The dental specialists at Hometown Family Dental Centers also know that a healthy smile leads to confidence and enhanced self-esteem. Located in Fayetteville, Vass, and Raeford, North Carolina, our team of professionals understands the importance of good oral health, offering a variety of treatment options.
A dental implant is an artificial tooth that’s supported by an artificial tooth root. Your dentist implants a titanium tooth root into your jawbone, allowing it to naturally fuse in place. These artificial roots are implanted anywhere in the top or bottom of your mouth, depending on the teeth being replaced.
Once the titanium tooth root has fused to your jawbone, your dentist attaches an abutment that holds a crown, or artificial tooth. The implant functions and looks just like natural teeth. Dental implants don’t shift inside your mouth and aren’t removable like dentures and bridges. They’re sturdy, and are so durable that they last a lifetime with proper care.
Dental implants truly are the next best thing to your own teeth. Aside from looking and feeling just like natural teeth, implants have many benefits.
Missing teeth affect your oral health. If you have painful, infected teeth that are severely decayed, it’s sometimes best to have them removed and replaced. Leaving inflamed or infected gum tissue in your mouth can lead to even more significant problems like gum disease. Dental implants resolve your mouth pain and improve your dental health.
Dental implants prevent bone loss by preserving jawbone function. Tooth roots stimulate your jawbone, and when there is no root due to a missing tooth, bone loss occurs. In the absence of a tooth root, your jawbone no longer receives stimulation from chewing. Over time, the loss of a tooth causes resorption of the bone that supported the tooth. A continuous loss of bone not only alters your ability to chew properly, but it also changes the appearance of your face.
Dental implants are an excellent solution to replace missing teeth. When you don’t replace a missing tooth, your other teeth shift toward the gap. When your teeth move and become crooked, they also become harder to keep clean. It’s difficult to properly floss between crooked teeth, leaving pockets of bacteria in your mouth. This can also lead to gum disease. A nice, straight smile illustrates a healthy mouth.
Dental implants aren’t like dentures. They don’t slip out of place while you’re talking or chewing. They don’t make noise. You don’t have to remove them and clean them every night. Best of all, you don’t need to deal with sticky, messy denture adhesive.
A dental implant is cost-effective permanent tooth replacement, and it’s a good investment in your oral health. Diseased gums and painful, decayed teeth lead to extra trips to the dentist, which can really add up when you put off getting proper treatment.
If you’re ready to discuss a dental implant for your missing or damaged teeth, call the Hometown Family Dental Centers location nearest you. Or you can request an appointment online. Let us restore your smile.
