How Dental Implants Improve Your Smile and Oral Health

Dr. Kevin Hogan • January 6, 2021

What Causes Teeth to Fall Out ?

Oral health issues can result in missing teeth. A healthy mouth and gums promote the bone and gum structure to hold teeth in place and to help you chew food correctly. Bad oral hygiene can cause periodontal conditions that weaken the bone structure and surrounding gums and can lead to tooth loss. Injury to the mouth is another common reason you might experience loose or missing teeth. A car accident, sports injury or fall could damage your mouth and teeth, resulting in one or more missing or broken teeth.

How Dental Implants Improve Your Smile and Oral Health

Missing teeth are both a cosmetic and health issue. Without treatment, you can become self-conscious about your smile and avoid contact with others. It can also create health challenges if your gums cannot properly hold your teeth in place, or if you experience bone loss due to missing teeth. If left uncorrected, loss of healthy bone density can lead to the deterioration of facial esthetics.

Dental implants offer both physical and mental benefits. A few of the most commonly experienced benefits include:

A more youthful-looking smile.
Greater self-confidence.
Teeth that look and feel like your natural teeth.
An outcome that improves your appearance and facial esthetics.
No challenges speaking.
A return of dental function that allows you to chew your favorite foods.
Dental implants promote healthy bone growth and preserve the jawbone structure.
Helps to avoid the shifting of your teeth.

The Dental Implant Procedure

Dental implants can be used to replace a single missing tooth, multiple teeth or replace all the teeth on the upper or lower arches in your mouth. The first step is to have your dentist evaluate your current oral health. If you currently have gum disease, your dentist may need to perform additional procedures to address this condition prior to dental implant surgery.

The implant procedure includes embedding a titanium screw into the bone of your jaw to serve as the root of the crown that will placed on top of the implant post. The jawbone will then permanently graft to the implant post, providing a strong, stable foundation to which the dentist a crown, giving you a permanent solution to tooth loss that matches the look of the adjacent teeth.

FAQs

Are dental implants worth it?

Dental implants provide more than just an aesthetic outcome from tooth loss. Dental implants support the adjacent teeth, supporting a healthy bite. Implants also decrease bone loss, preserving the underlying jawbone and further preserving facial aesthetics.
What is the best age for dental implants?

Dental implants are an appropriate, permanent solution to missing that can last 25 years or more with proper care and maintenance. Since over half of individuals over the age of 65 have at least one missing tooth, dental implants are a popular solutions for older individuals wanting to replace one or more missing teeth, or replace a full arch of teeth with implant supported dentures.
Can you get implants in your whole mouth?

Full mouth dental implants are used for people who have lost all or most of their teeth on one or both arches. Full mouth dental implants consist of four to eight titanium implant posts screwed into the jawbone that will later support a full arch of replacement teeth.
Is 70 too old for dental implants?

No age is too old for dental implants, in fact, older people many times find greater benefits from dental implants like improved oral and physical health, improved facial aesthetics and greater confidence. Dental implants are equally effective and long-lasting when use din older patients.