If you have suffered tooth loss, dental implants are a great intervention used by many dentists. There are many reasons why tooth loss can occur such as poor oral hygiene or even tartar buildup. Dental implants consist of an artificial tooth root that is placed into your jawbone. In return, a strong and permanent foundation is given for a replacement tooth. Dental implants are a bit different from other tooth replacement options because they replace both the tooth and the root.
Benefits of Dental Implants
There are several benefits of dental implants. They can help improve your self-esteem and act as natural teeth would. Dental implants feel and look just like your natural teeth which can boost your confidence. They are also convenient and durable. Implants can also support your overall oral health. Other benefits of dental implants include:
- Comfort
- Speech
- Chewing abilities
- No need to remove them to floss, eat, drink, or brush your teeth
- Can sleep with them in
When are implants necessary?
If you have missing teeth and do not want to get crowns, bridges, or dentures, dental implants may be necessary. It is important that you replace any missing teeth since the consequences of losing a tooth can create an even bigger problem in the future.
Dental implants play a vital role in the overall function of your mouth. They also help to support a healthy bite and works to keep every tooth in their proper place. If you do not replace any missing teeth, you may experience deterioration of your jawbone.
While you may feel self-conscious about your smile, dental implants can have a major effect on that.
What happens if I don’t get dental implants?
There are so many things that can go wrong if you make the decision not to get dental implants. If a tooth needs to come out, it needs to be removed, or else it can result in damage to the surrounding teeth. Dentists know that delaying any type of dental procedure can result in significant damage in the near future. For example, a missing tooth that has been out for 12 months or more can result in bone to atrophy. Atrophy is a decrease in height and bone density. This could very well mean that you need a bone graph and a dental implant. A bone graft can be extremely painful and cost you a lot of money than if you were to just get an implant.
If you choose to postpone dental implants, the positioning of your teeth can also become affected. This is because all teeth work together, meaning a missing tooth can result in the shifting of other teeth.
TMJ may also result. This is chronic pain in your jaw. You may end up needing some type of orthodontics such as aligners, braces, or another device to make space for dental implants. Overall, these issues can cause problems when trying to eat, and can result in significant damage to your oral health.
Dental implants are known to prevent pain and suffering in the future, and can also save you a ton of money for any of the above-mentioned procedures.