The 4 Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants are the field's gold standard for replacing damaged or missing teeth. These restorations offer multiple life-changing benefits. This blog will explain the four top benefits of dental implants in detail and answer frequently asked questions.
Benefit #1: Preserve Oral Health
Unlike bridges, dental implants replace not only the tooth's crown but also the natural root system. Tooth extractions without restoration leave the jawbone vulnerable to breaking down in the area of the empty socket.
Lost jawbone volume can lead to an altered facial appearance. This problem also makes it more challenging to place an implant in the future without a bone graft.
A gap left by an extracted tooth allows other teeth to drift, changing your smile's alignment. Food and plaque may collect in the gaps. In addition, the teeth may become crowded and crossed, making it harder to keep them clean. Both these issues can lead to increased tooth decay and gum disease.
Benefit #2: Restore Chewing and Speaking Function
Patients with compromised teeth often have trouble chewing their favorite foods. If they have restorations like bridges and crowns, they may have food restrictions as well to avoid damaging their appliances. With implants, you can eat what you like, within reason.
Missing teeth may also cause whistling or lisping speech sounds. Completing dentition with implants keeps speech natural and fluent.
Benefit #3: Easy Care
Caring for implants is much easier than caring for traditional dentures or bridges. A single-tooth implant needs the same level of care as a healthy, natural tooth. Twice-daily brushing, flossing, and keeping scheduled dental appointments are usually enough to maintain implants in good repair.
Benefit #4: Attractive, Natural Appearance
Many patients have the mistaken impression that implants look fake. Today, most people will be unable to tell that you have a dental implant unless they previously noticed the gap in your smile.
Implants precisely match your existing teeth and blend in seamlessly. You can chew, smile, and speak as you did with a complete set of healthy teeth, significantly improving your quality of life.
The Dental Implant Process
The first step in receiving new dental implants is booking a consultation with your oral surgeon. Dr. Braasch will review the process and answer your questions. He will take CBCT (cone beam computed tomography) images to fully understand your facial anatomy and determine whether you are a good candidate for the procedure.
Dental implant surgery is considerably easier than most patients believe. Many patients choose sedation so they can relax during the procedure, but others feel comfortable with local anesthesia.
The oral surgeon uses a unique tool to create an opening for a small titanium anchor. The biocompatible anchor will bond with the jaw for a matter of months until it has healed enough to place a stainless steel abutment to hold the crown.
After the gums heal around the abutment, your family dentist or prosthodontist can place a dental crown as the final restoration. When your crown is in place, you will have a complete, beautiful smile.
Types of Dental Implants
Dental implants often represent a significant investment in your oral health and quality of life. Dr. Braasch can help you determine which implant type would work best in your situation.
- Single-Tooth Implants
- Implant-Supported Bridges
- Implant-Supported Dentures
Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Implants
Why are dental implants a better choice than bridges?
Bridges are beneficial for many patients, but implants are easier to keep clean, last longer, and preserve oral health. Bridges provide an attractive replacement but require a great deal of care. Cleaning under and around a bridge can be challenging, and bridges sometimes harm oral health when patients do not practice excellent oral hygiene.
How does a dental implant help the jawbone?
An extracted tooth leaves the jawbone without chewing stimulation in the area around the socket. Without this stimulation, the bone begins to reabsorb into the body. A dental implant bonds with the bone and provides the same stimulation as a natural root system. Your jawbone will remain solid and intact, avoiding the "sunken" look common in older patients with missing teeth.
Call Braasch OMS
If you are curious about dental implants and want to know more, please call our Bedford, NH, office at 603-657-1984 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Braasch. We look forward to speaking with you.