Dental implants are an increasingly popular choice among the 120 million Americans who are missing at least one tooth. And for good reason. Nothing else comes close to duplicating the appearance and functionality of natural teeth.
Our dental experts have restored countless smiles with dental implants at the Northwest Dental Services & Denture Implant Center, with locations in Tocoma and Lakewood, Washington.
In this blog, they break down who is a candidate for dental implants and the many benefits they offer.
Most healthy adults can get dental implants. Our dentists evaluate your gum and jawbone health to determine if they’re viable for you. Healthy gums and sufficient jaw bone density are necessary to support an implant.
A few other considerations: Patients suffering from certain illnesses, such as uncontrolled diabetes, who are smokers, or who take specific medications such as bone-growing medicine, like Fosamax or Boniva, are also not suitable candidates.
But for those who are, dental implants deliver unparalleled benefits in replacing missing teeth. These include:
Here are the top five reasons Northwest Dental Services & Denture Implant Center providers recommend dental implants.
Implants consist of three parts: a titanium post placed into your jawbone, an abutment attached to the top of the post, and a crown secured to the abutment. This design mimics a natural tooth, with the post acting as an artificial root and the crown replacing the visible part of your tooth.
This design means that an implant functions just like a natural tooth. Implants are also more comfortable than dentures, which rest on your gums.
Implanted into your jawbone, the implant post keeps the entire implant much more secure than dentures. With an implant, you don’t need to worry about a denture popping out during a meal or slipping while talking with someone.
The added security of an implant also means you don’t have to worry about slippage that can lead to sore spots on your lips or gums.
While dentures and bridges require a different cleaning routine, implants can be maintained with regular brushing and flossing — just like the rest of your teeth. Regular dental checkups are still essential to ensure your gums stay healthy and to check for other problems.
With dentures and bridges, certain foods can pose problems. Foods that are extra sticky can easily become entangled in bridgework, sometimes causing damage that requires a new restoration to be made.
Other foods, such as corn on the cob or fresh apples or carrots, can make your dentures pop out — right in the middle of a meal. Since implants are like natural teeth, you can eat whatever foods you like.
When you lose a tooth, you lose the stimulation in that part of your jaw. Without stimulation, the bone thins, putting you at risk for additional tooth loss.
Unlike other replacement choices, implants stimulate the jawbone. By acting as a tooth root, the implant post helps the jaw tissue stay strong so it can continue to support teeth and help prevent tooth loss in the future.
To learn more about dental implants and if they’re right for you, call the nearest Northwest Dental Services & Denture Implant Center office.
