5 Ways Dental Implants Are the Best Tooth Replacement Options

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Ways dental implants make your life better every day.

Replacing one or more missing teeth can be a transformative experience for the function of your teeth, your oral health, and your confidence. Modern dentistry has a surprising range of options when it comes to replacing missing teeth, which helps ensure that you’ll be able to choose the best treatment option for you—one that meets your treatment needs, goals, and budget. If you’re beginning to look into tooth replacement options such as dental implants or crowns, however, you might find yourself wondering if one of these treatments is better than the rest.

Each treatment has its strengths and weaknesses, but there is one that shines above the rest for its ability to look, feel, and function like natural teeth: dental implants. When it comes down to it, dental implants are the treatment that’s the most like turning back time and regaining your natural tooth. This treatment goes beyond the others, restoring and protecting your oral health in ways that other treatments can’t. To help you understand what sets dental implants apart, here are the basics on them as well as 5 ways they’re the best tooth replacement option out there.

What is a dental implant?

A dental implant is a titanium metal rod that’s embedded directly into your jaw bone to serve as a new tooth root. A dental restoration like a crown is then placed on this new root to restore the appearance, function, and health of your missing tooth. Dental implants are incredibly versatile because you can get just one or several at once, which can then be secured with a bridge, partial dentures, or full dentures.

Who needs dental implants?

Anyone who is missing one or more teeth or who is about to lose a tooth may need a tooth replacement option like dental implants. If you already have a restorative treatment like traditional dentures but are looking for a change, and especially if you want a more secure restoration, dental implants are a great option. Since implants can be secured with so many different types of restorations, they can replace a single missing tooth or all of the teeth in your mouth, helping them meet everyone’s unique treatment needs. Dental implants come with a range of other benefits, including the following:

1. You’ll look and feel amazing.

Dental implants and the restorations that cap them are custom-made for you to ensure that they look, fit, and feel like natural teeth. This natural, comfortable fit is partially due to the deep-rooted stability that comes from their placement in your jaw and partially because of the care that is taken in the fabrication process to ensure that your new tooth fits naturally into the gap left behind by your missing tooth. Dental implants don’t just feel great, they look as natural as they feel, allowing you to retain—or even improve—the natural beauty of your smile. The porcelain or ceramic material that these restorations are made of is also designed to mimic natural teeth perfectly. Your restoration will match the gloss and shade of your natural teeth. Even its shape is considered carefully, helping it blend seamlessly into your smile.

2. They help you regain confidence in the little things.

Since they’re embedded directly into your jaw bone just like a natural tooth root, dental implants provide an unmatched level of deep-rooted stability. This stability means that they don’t just look and feel like natural teeth—they function like them, too! No matter which type of restoration you get on your implants, they won’t click or shift while you eat and speak. Implants even restore your biting power, so you’ll be able to keep eating all of your favorite foods and doing your favorite activities without worrying about your teeth.

The difference is especially obvious when it comes to denture comfort, as your implant-supported dentures remain just as securely in place as an implant with a crown. This makes basic tasks like eating, speaking, and smiling easier again, giving you the confidence you need even in the little things. You may regain confidence in areas you didn’t even realize you needed to, simply because you won’t have to think about your teeth and the way they look or function every day—you’ll just be able to trust them to function the way they’re meant to.

3. Dental implants protect teeth and the healthy bone structure in your jaw.

The aspect that sets dental implants apart from every other tooth replacement option is their replacement of your tooth roots as well as the visible, chewing portion of the tooth. This gives dental implants far more than just improved stability and functionality—it allows them to carry out the essential job of keeping your jaw bone stimulated. This stimulation tells your body to keep sending your jaw the nutrients it needs to stay strong and healthy. Without it, your body begins reabsorbing the bone, leading to low bone density that weakens it and can impact the shape of your face.

This is a problem that other tooth replacements can’t avoid, and it’s one of the most significant denture problems out there. Traditional dentures can also speed bone loss by wearing down the bone they rest on, leading to the stereotypical “sunken-in” appearance that denture wearers’ jaws can take on over time. Thankfully, dental implants ensure that this is far from inevitable! By replacing your tooth roots, they provide the stimulation your jaw bone needs, keeping it strong and healthy for years to come.

4. They’re so natural you can treat them like your normal teeth.

Dental implants mimic your natural teeth so well that caring for them is just as simple as caring for your natural teeth. You simply need to commit to a great oral hygiene routine, including brushing your teeth for two minutes at least twice a day, flossing at least once a day, using mouthwash every day, and visiting your dentist at least every six months for a regular checkup and professional cleaning. You should also treat your restorations with the same care you provide your natural teeth. This means that you shouldn’t use them as tools to open packaging, crunch down on ice, or crack nut shells open. Your restorations are durable and designed to last for years if taken care of properly, but doing this runs the risk of damaging them just like it runs the risk of damaging your natural teeth. Since this is the same level of care that you should give your natural teeth, caring for dental implants is just as simple as caring for your natural teeth.

5. You gain peace of mind from knowing your implants are built to last.

Each tooth replacement option out there is expected to last a different amount of time when you take care of them, but dental implants by far have the best longevity. Bridges, for example, can last about 15 years or more with great care, while traditional dentures typically last between five and eight years and require yearly appointments to see if they need to be adjusted. In contrast, dental implants are designed to last a lifetime with proper care. The dental restoration secured to the top of your implant may need to be replaced eventually due to wear and tear, but the implant itself should never need to be replaced. This saves you the time and money that you’d otherwise spend on replacing restorations and gives you the peace of mind that comes from knowing that you don’t have to worry about when it’s time to replace your implants.

Replacing one or more missing teeth can be transformative no matter which tooth replacement option you choose, but dental implants can transform your daily life in ways that other treatments simply can’t. Their unique qualities make them the best tooth replacement option for many people. If you’d like to learn more about them from an implant dentist in Wilson, NC, feel free to call our office and schedule a consultation at any time.

Dixon Boles & Associates