Quick Summary
Dental implants anchor to an artificial titanium root, so they do not shift or move while you eat or talk. Beyond replacing the tooth, the titanium root fuses with the surrounding bone over time and helps maintain jawbone density that would otherwise be lost. Closing the gap also reduces the exposed surface area where bacteria can cause decay and gum inflammation.
When considering your options for the replacement of teeth that are missing or have been removed, dental implants should be at the top of your list. Dental implants are a method of permanent tooth replacement.
These implants anchor to an artificial titanium root. Unlike dentures or bridges, they will not shift or move while you eat or talk.
Of all the replacement options available, dental implants are the most like having your own natural teeth. Furthermore, opting for dental implants can actually improve your oral health.
Keep reading to learn how dental implants can improve your oral health and give you a healthier smile!
1. Dental Implants Maintain Bone Density
Without a tooth to support it, the jawbone at the base of an extracted tooth can begin to weaken over time. This leads to degeneration of bone density resulting in a reduction in the original size of your jawbone.
The artificial titanium root, which forms the base of a dental implant, not only holds the tooth part of the implant but also maintains bone density. Over time, the titanium root fuses with the surrounding bone, fortifying it and ensuring that bone density is not lost.
2. Dental Implants Reduce the Risk of Tooth and Gum Disease
When a tooth is extracted but not replaced, it creates a gap that causes your remaining teeth to shift. However, it also exposes more surface area of those teeth to harmful bacteria, which leads to tooth decay.
That same bacteria can also cause painful inflammation and gum disease as it enters the gum tissue more easily through the empty tooth socket. Gum disease can be very uncomfortable, but it is also usually irreversible.
This often requires additional specialty care and can lead to further degeneration of the jawbone, resulting in further tooth loss.
3. Dental Implants Help Increase Your Self-Confidence in Your Smile
When you opt for dental implants to restore the health and beauty of your smile, you will have the self-confidence to smile wider, eat any food you like, and speak as clearly as you did before you replaced that missing or extracted tooth.
When you have a smile that you are proud of, you are more likely to take good care of that smile! Often, patients with dental implants maintain a better oral hygiene routine to ensure the longevity of the health of their teeth and the appearance of their newly restored smile.
4. Dental Implants are Easy to Maintain and are Long-Lasting
Once your dentist fully implants your dental implants, it requires little special cleaning or maintenance. Unlike dentures, which need to be removed and thoroughly cleaned daily, you can brush and floss dental implants just as you would a natural tooth.
With proper maintenance, dental implants can last for many years without needing adjustment or replacement. If you need to replace the tooth part of the implant, it can easily be done in our office using our advanced inter-oral scanning technology to ensure a perfect look and fit!
At Merry Dental, we offer dental implants that not only restore and improve the look of your smile but also improve your oral health! These dental implants provide the following benefits:
- Maintain bone density
- Reduces your risk of tooth and gum disease
- Offers long-lasting results
At Merry Dental, we believe that dental implants are the best choice available for replacing a missing or extracted tooth!
Do you want to learn more about dental implants? Schedule an appointment at Merry Dental in Billerica, MA, today!
Frequently Asked Questions
How do implants help maintain bone density?
Without a tooth to support it, the jawbone at the base of an extracted tooth can weaken over time, reducing the original size of the jawbone. The artificial titanium root that forms the base of an implant fuses with the surrounding bone over time, fortifying it so that bone density is not lost.
Does leaving a gap increase my risk of gum disease?
When a tooth is extracted and not replaced, the remaining teeth shift and more of their surface area is exposed to harmful bacteria, which leads to decay. That same bacteria can enter the gum tissue more easily through the empty socket and cause inflammation and gum disease, which is usually irreversible.
Are implants harder to clean than dentures?
No. Unlike dentures, which need to be removed and thoroughly cleaned daily, you can brush and floss dental implants just as you would a natural tooth. Once placed, an implant requires little special cleaning or maintenance.
Can the crown on an implant be replaced?
Yes. If the tooth part of the implant needs replacing, it can be done in the office using intra-oral scanning technology to check the look and the fit of the replacement.
Merry Dental, 337 Boston Rd, Billerica, MA 01821. 978-404-5400. Serving Billerica, Lowell, Chelmsford, Tewksbury, Burlington and Bedford.