Missing teeth are a major problem no matter where the spaces are in your mouth, no matter how the tooth was lost. There are three major ways to replace an absent tooth – dental implants, dental bridges, and dentures in various forms – but dental implants tend to be the right choice for the most patients, and they are very likely to work for you too.
1. You Hope to Combat Bone Loss
Bone loss is a common side effect of missing teeth that leads to a condition known as facial collapse. Under these circumstances, the jawbone shrinks and changes the shape of the face and jaw. The biggest side effect? You look older than you really are. With dental implants in place, the jawbone is stimulated so it remains strong and healthy and other teeth are not loosened or lost.
2. You Need a Long-Term Solution
Dental bridges and dentures – whether full or partial – are designed to last for a long time and give you a solid smile. However, when compared to dental implants, there is no better way to get a lasting repair for a broken-down smile. The implants replace missing teeth with a permanent titanium implant surgically implanted in the jawbone. This solution isn’t going anywhere – the only thing that might need to be replaced after a few years is the crown atop the implant.
3. You Want a Natural Restoration
One of the biggest perks of dental implants is how they look, feel, and function just like natural teeth. The last thing you want is to correct the missing teeth in your smile with a repair that looks fake and draws unwanted attention to itself. Dentures, for example, though solid in their modern formation, are sometimes unreliable because of poor adhesive or a fit that changes over time. Once a dental implant is in place, it will fit and feel natural and look that way too.
4. You Want Your Confidence Back
Missing teeth affect appearance, of course, but they also affect chewing and biting ability and influence diet and nutrition. How you speak may be negatively impacted too – all teeth are needed to help you speak clearly and articulately. Without all your teeth, confidence decreases and you’ll be self-conscious about how you look, sound, and act. With dental implants, you’ll never have to worry about these problems again and can maintain a youthful appearance.
5. It’s Possible to Replace Multiple Teeth Simultaneously
One dental implant can be used to replace one missing tooth, but if you have several missing teeth in one area of your mouth, you don’t need an implant per tooth. You can undergo implant surgery but have only a few dental implants put in place before a permanent restoration is snapped on – a partial denture, in many cases – and acts seamlessly as a permanent replacement.
Dental Implants for a Winning Smile
Getting dental implants is a two-part process, where the manmade root is implanted in the jawbone and a dental crown is attached to the abutment of the implant. The healing process is lengthy but critical and lends itself to long-lasting repairs.
If you have missing teeth and they’re getting in the way of your life professionally, socially, personally, or otherwise, schedule a consultation with Dr. Alana Macalik in Arlington, TX.