Why Dental Implants are Important
You’ve heard that dental implants are safe. You know you need to take care of your dental hygiene and health and that dental implants help with that. But have you ever considered why implants are so important?
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They don’t just let you eat apples again or save you from embarrassment when someone realizes you’re missing a tooth. Dental implants definitely do that, too. Yes, they’re easy to care for and last years longer than dentures. But do you know why they’re so important? There are several reasons why many dentists encourage dental implants as an option for patients over dentures or other options. They really are that important.
Improved Dental Health
Whether you have one missing tooth or several, leaving those gaps can harm your dental health over time. Your remaining teeth may shift over the years, leading to spaces, new gaps, and crooked teeth. Another potential concern is the increased risk of periodontal disease. This is especially worrisome if gum disease or other health issues are part of the reason why you have a missing tooth in the first place. Even the metal clasps and hooks from partial dentures can lead to damage of your gum tissue over time.
Getting dental implants reduces these risks by giving you a permanent and as close to a natural solution as possible. No more empty spaces or metal rubbing on your gums. Plus, taking care of your implants is as easy as brushing your teeth and seeing your local dentist regularly.
Better Self-Esteem
If you’re less than thrilled with the appearance of your teeth, you’re not alone. Plenty of patients with missing, crooked, or discolored teeth hate their smile. But hating your smile is only the beginning. Many patients refuse to let their teeth show, speak in public, or smile at strangers or even people they know. Over time, this takes a toll on your self-esteem.
A lack of confidence leads to fewer job opportunities and promotions, less than satisfying relationships, and many other problems. With dental implants, you can replace missing teeth or discolored or broken teeth with a beautiful, natural-looking smile. It might take you a while to get used to your new smile, but once you do, you may be surprised at how quickly your confidence returns.
Improved Quality of Life
Not only can your dental health and self-esteem suffer when you’re missing teeth, but so can the overall quality of your life. Foods you used to love might not be an option anymore because you can’t chew them. Your remaining teeth might be extremely sensitive to heat, cold, or even sugar, especially if they’re chipped or broken. Enjoying what you used to love may be drastically reduced.
Once you’ve replaced missing, broken, or cracked teeth with dental implants, you’ll be able to chew as normal. Your implants won’t hurt the way sensitive teeth do. Your dietary choices will expand and your willingness to go to restaurants or try new (or old) favorites will grow again. Depending on how long it’s been since you’ve had healthy teeth in place, it might be like getting your old life back or having a brand new adventure with so many more options than you ever had before.
Preventing Bone Loss
Once you lose or remove a tooth, you begin to lose bone in your jaw. It may not happen immediately, but over time you’ll watch your jawline and entire face change. The impact of bone loss in your jaw can be much more drastic when you have even fewer teeth. If anyone in your family has been wearing dentures for a long time, take a look at a picture of them when they still had their teeth and now. You’ll see the difference almost immediately.
Even missing a single tooth can lead to some bone loss. Dental implants fix this by giving the surrounding bone something to latch onto — the implant fuses with the jawbone and becomes an artificial root. You only need a few of these in your jaw to stave off bone loss.
Conclusion
Dental implants do much more than let you have nice looking teeth — although that’s definitely a wonderful benefit. They can increase your self-confidence, help you stay healthy, and give you a big part of your life back. It’s okay if you choose dental implants simply because you want a nicer smile — that’s just as important as preventing bone loss. You might be told that dental implants are just a cosmetic procedure, but don’t be fooled. They can be an important part of your future dental and overall health and well-being.
