Dental implants can give you back your smile, no matter how many teeth you might have lost. They can also help you avoid health problems due to tooth loss and jawbone resorption as you get older. If you have missing teeth, implants are the best way to restore your smile.
How Dental Implants Help Preserve Your Health
Tooth loss as you grow older is not inevitable, but if you do lose teeth and don’t have them replaced, the effects on your health can be chronic and bothersome. People with missing teeth tend to develop long-term problems such as:
- Deterioration of the jawbone
- Thinning of the gums
- Change in the shape of the face
- Poorer nutrition
- Misalignment of remaining teeth
- Jaw misalignment
Loss of bone mass in the jaw causes the gums to become thinner and also changes the shape of the face, bringing the lower jaw closer to the upper jaw. If you wear dentures, this can cause them to fit improperly and become uncomfortable. Lack of teeth or having to eat with loose or uncomfortable dentures also affects your nutrition because you are less likely to choose healthy options like fresh vegetables, which are harder to chew. Your remaining teeth can also shift out of place, leading to problems with the jaw joint.
Choosing Dental Implants
Dental implants help you avoid all these problems. If your overall health is good, talk to your dentist about implants to replace your missing teeth. The metal root portion of the implant, once the bone has healed and bonded with it, stimulates growth in the jawbone so the tissue does not resorb and atrophy. Implants are also permanent and stationary, so you can eat anything you want to, including crunchy fresh fruits and vegetables and other healthy foods that are difficult to eat with dentures or with missing teeth.
Implants will also help your remaining teeth stay in position so they don’t move out of alignment. In the long term, this helps you chew more efficiently, reduces wear and tear, and keeps your jaw from moving out of proper alignment.
Contact the office of Dr. Daggula for more information about dental implants today.
