Are Dental Implants My Best Tooth Replacement Option?

Losing your teeth, whether a single tooth or all of them, profoundly impacts your oral health, ability to enjoy life, and even your self-esteem. If not replaced, missing teeth often lead to other oral health issues and additional tooth loss. They make it more difficult to eat certain foods and can make you self-conscious about your appearance. It’s obvious that replacing missing teeth is essential. With multiple options available, why are so many people choosing dental implants to replace missing teeth?

Eating Ability

Dental implants restore your ability to chew even the toughest foods and eat whatever you like without worrying about dentures slipping or food debris getting caught underneath. The implants in your jawbone also absorb the bite force like natural tooth roots, so you can’t tell the difference between your natural teeth and implants when eating.

Easy Care

Other tooth replacement options, such as dentures or bridges, have to be removed at night for sleeping and cleaning. They also require special cleaning supplies, which can be a problem, particularly when traveling. Dental implants are cared for just like your natural teeth—flossing and brushing twice daily are all that’s needed (aside from twice-yearly dental checkups) to keep your smile in top form.

Protecting Your Oral Health

Dental implants protect oral health in several ways. When an implant is placed in the jawbone, it stimulates the surrounding bone, preventing bone loss. When missing a tooth, the empty socket deteriorates rapidly, weakening the jawbone. With an implant replacing the root, bone continues to form.

Implants also keep adjacent teeth stable, preventing them from shifting out of alignment, which can affect your bite, leading to headaches and jaw stiffness. Gum disease can be a significant issue when a missing tooth isn’t replaced because food debris and bacteria easily become trapped in the gap and the empty tooth socket. Replacing the tooth with an implant restoration eliminates this bacterial breeding ground.

Preserving a Youthful Appearance

When teeth are missing, the deterioration of the jawbone leads to a sunken facial appearance. The lower third of the face recedes, the lips thin, and you appear older than you really are. This is why many people with dentures or missing teeth have a prematurely aged look. Dental implants stimulate the jawbone so that it continues to support the contours of the face for a youthful appearance.

A Lifetime of Enjoyment

While other teeth replacement options may have a limited lifespan, dental implants are designed to last a lifetime. Made from biocompatible materials such as titanium or zirconia, they fully integrate with the jawbone, offering a secure and long-term solution. For most people, dental implants last a lifetime, providing a sense of security. Even if the restoration or crown is damaged, it can usually be replaced without disturbing the implant in the jawbone.

Although there are other replacements for missing teeth, none offer the many advantages of dental implants. If you are considering dental implants and would like to know more about them and how they can improve your oral health and restore your smile, please contact River Walk Family Dental at Naperville IL Dentist Office Phone Number 630-579-6000. Our team is ready to answer all your questions and guide you through the process.