Although the United States is a world leader in medical technology and has seen dental care improvements in leaps and bounds through the decades, millions of Americans still suffer from the physical and emotional repercussions of tooth loss. Tooth loss can occur for a number of reasons, including traumatic injury to the mouth, advanced gum disease, and general tooth decay. Tooth loss is an issue that affects not only how people view themselves, but also how they engage in daily activities, such as eating in a restaurant or smiling for a photo.
Traditionally, dentures were one of the few options available for patients suffering from tooth loss. However, many patients are incredibly unhappy with how conventional dentures feel and function. They require daily maintenance, adherence to gums with messy denture paste, and often limit the types of food that can be eaten. The world of dental care continues to improve however, and dental implants provide patients with tooth loss an appealing new solution.
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are in essence a tooth root replacement. Titanium posts are inserted into the patient’s jawbone which provides a strong foundation for artificial teeth, functioning in the same way a real tooth root does to hold natural teeth in place. Once the titanium post implants have successfully fused with the jawbone, a small extension is added which allows implant dentures to affix to it. Implant dentures can be permanent or removable.
What are the Advantages of Dental Implants?
There are many advantages of dental implants over traditional dentures including:
Appearance
Since dental implants fuse directly with your jawbone, they fit securely and look very natural. Dental implants can help you smile confidently again.
Flexibility
You have the option of getting new, customized implant dentures or retrofitting your current dentures.
Comfort
Since they work like tooth roots, implants are considerably more comfortable than removable dentures which can become loose and cause painful irritation.
Functionality
You may notice that traditional, removable dentures cause your speech to become unclear due to loose fittings. Dental implants are stable and secure so you don’t have to worry about slippage disrupting your speech pattern.
Loose fitting dentures can also make eating your favorite foods a challenge. Dental implants allow you to enjoy any type of food you desire in total comfort and security.
Oral health
Since dental implants don’t require structural alteration in surrounding natural teeth, they confer better oral health outcomes for patients. The incorporation of individual implants also facilitates access between teeth which is good news for your overall oral hygiene.
Convenience
Durability Getting dental implants generally means you won’t have to face the embarrassment of removing dentures at inopportune moments or battle with sloppy denture adhesives.
Dental implants do not require replacing every few years. In fact, if they are very well taken care of they may never need replacing.
Who Can Benefit?
Generally, if someone is healthy enough to undergo routine oral surgery, they can be a candidate for dental implants. Although chronic conditions like heart disease or diabetes do not necessarily preclude you from the procedure, your health status and individual risk will need to be evaluated by your dentist. After receiving dental implants, patients use the same oral hygiene routines they would for natural teeth including regular flossing and brushing.
If you’re ready to discover your smile, ask your dentist about the option of dental implants.
Written by Aaron Rite, a writer for numerous businesses jumping online to provide professional advice and informational blogs for consumers interested in industry-related topics. Aaron writes on all sorts of topics, notably in business.
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