As an adult with one or more missing teeth, you may experience low self-confidence or oral health issues in association with this dilemma. Whether or not your decision to gain a fuller smile began as a cosmetic desire, you will be surprised by the list of benefits your mouth will receive from a dental implant. Where dental bridges have been the norm in dentistry in the past, expert dentists like Dr. Matthew, DDS, MICOI now hail dental implants as being the best way to fix a missing tooth! Take a look at the super powers of dental implants, as well as Dr. Matthew’s explanation of them in this video at South Bay Smiles!
Implant Restoration for Missing Teeth
Dental restoration can mean a lot of different treatments. Your dentist may recommend anything from veneers to bridges to implants, but for missing teeth, there seems to be a clear leader of the pack. A dental implant is a permanent placement in the space where your tooth once was. The implant is fused to your jawbone and it becomes part of your mouth. Then, a natural-looking crown is fitted over the implant, instantly giving you a full and organic looking smile that can last forever.
Implants vs Bridges
Unlike a bridge, a dental implant requires no support from your adjacent teeth. Bridges fit themselves onto a shaved down neighboring tooth for support. Because an implant stands alone, it does not affect other teeth. Further, having implants fused to your mouth actually helps preserve your bone—it is the only tooth replacement treatment to do so.
While there is more planning involved when choosing an implant, and it does require surgery—which bridges do not—implants are known to last from 20 to 50 years! Dental bridges last, on average, about 10 years. This makes dental implants far more permanent than bridges.
Other Benefits of Implant Restoration
You can restore your mouth to something closely resembling its natural state with a dental implant. Porcelain crowns are designed and colored to match your teeth, and you may not even be able to tell which tooth has the crown. Once you have received an implant, teeth cleaning is as simple as it was with your natural teeth—so there are no special maneuvers or flossing you will need to embark on!
With your new tooth, you will no longer be at risk for the consequences associated with a missing tooth. If you were experiencing speech problems, they are likely to be corrected when you install an implant. You will no longer have to avoid certain types of food because of that gaping hole in your mouth. With missing teeth, you risk weakening your other teeth because there are fewer teeth to help chew. Your other teeth will also try to move around in your mouth to fill in the missing space. With a dental implant, you can have a permanent solution to an oral health and cosmetic problem!
Contact Us at South Bay Smiles
If you are interested in dental implants and want more information on receiving this super treatment, cal (310) 670-0659. and the experts at South Bay Smiles will help you schedule a consultation today!