Besides death and taxes, most adults can expect to lose a tooth at some point in their lives – not counting wisdom teeth.
By the age of 50, an American adult can expect to have 32% fewer teeth. And about 70% of Adults will have already lost a permanent tooth between the ages of 35 and 44.
Whether it’s because of a sports injury, tooth decay, gum disease or even an accident, tooth loss happens. And the Vegas odds are good that it’s going to happen to most adults at some point.
The good news? Dental technology keeps improving. So, if and when you do lose a tooth, there are now more options to replace it. One of these options are dental implants, which have become the most popular tooth replacement treatment.
The reason for their popularity? Dental implants look, feel and function like a real tooth.
Think of a dental implant as a replacement tooth with an artificial root. Implants can be used to replace one or more missing teeth. The procedure places a titanium screw into your jaw bone, which bonds with your bone and then provides a sturdy anchor from which to add an artificial tooth, like a porcelain dental crown.
5 Reasons to Choose Dental Implants!
If you’re thinking about replacing a missing tooth, here are some of the benefits implants offer.
- Prevent Bone Loss – A healthy body relies on good bones, and so do your teeth. Having a strong jaw bone supports your teeth by holding them in place. But a missing tooth can begin to deteriorate the bone density in your jaw. The new gap in your mouth, caused by the missing tooth, doesn’t have another tooth to make contact with. Having another tooth to make contact with actually stimulates and supports the bone in your jaw. It’s similar to exercising in order to maintain muscle. The longer you delay to fill the gap from a missing tooth the more the bone in your jaw begins to deteriorate in this area, which will start to weaken any neighboring teeth. Dental implants mimic the shape and strength of a natural tooth root, so they actually help preserve the density of the jawbone and prevent bone loss.
- Better Functionality – Implants will match the look of your other teeth, so they’ll look great when you smile. But they offer more than a cosmetic enhancement. They can also restore the functionality of your teeth, so you’ll be able to chew foods with confidence, and without discomfort, just like a natural tooth. You no longer have to alter your diet to avoid foods that are generally hard to chew. – salads, fruits and vegetables. Adding more foods back into your meals will help ensure that you’re also getting enough protein, vitamins, and minerals back into your diet, and keep healthier overall.
- Keep Your Other Teeth Healthy + Stable – A dental implant is rooted, so it supports itself. There’s no need for any surrounding healthy teeth to support it. This is a big advantage to keeping neighboring teeth stable and healthy, unlike other replacement options such as a dental bridge. This treatment uses two adjacent teeth to help fill in a missing gap. This sometimes requires shaving down a healthy surrounding tooth so that the bridge can properly close the gap. Partial dentures also rely on other teeth for support. This may place excessive force on the remaining, healthy teeth, and can sometimes promote gum issues, like gum disease.
- Durable + Long Lasting – Dental implants are virtually as strong as the natural tooth they replace. Dentures will require frequent adjustments, bridges can last about 5 to 10 years, but implants can last a lifetime with proper care and maintenance. While implants are considered a permanent tooth replacement it doesn’t mean they always last forever. But they can last 25 years (and sometimes even longer) when they’re taken care of properly. Depending on your personal circumstances, you may never have to worry about replacing your dental implant at all after you get the procedure.
- Comfort & Easy Maintenance – Caring for your dental implant is as easy as brushing and flossing. You don’t have to take your implant out and brush it separately or soak it in any type of cleanser. Dental implants are also known for their comfort. In fact, any patients say that they’ve forgotten that they even have one because their implant looks, feels, and functions like their natural teeth.
A missing tooth affects more than the look of your smile. If you would like to learn more about dental implants, and determine whether you’re a good candidate for this treatment, please call (206) 524-1000 to schedule an implants consultation or request an appointment online.