You’ve lost a tooth (or teeth) and now you’re sifting through the alternatives to figure out which one is best for you. From dentures to bridges, there are many ways to avoid having a gaping hole in your teeth, but none are as effective as dental implants.
To give you an idea of the incredible benefits of dental implants, we’ve pulled together a list of six things you should know as you weigh your options. Read on to find out what many of our patients here at Doueck Dental & Sleep Medicine in Brooklyn, New York, have already discovered about the superiority of dental implants.
1. It’s more than a tooth
The loss of a tooth, down to its roots, is more than just an inconvenience or cosmetic concern — it can have a widespread effect on the entire bone structure around your mouth. Bones are living tissue that are constantly rebuilding and regenerating when they know they’re in service. When you lose a tooth, the bone in your jaw is no longer needed to hold the tooth in place, so it begins to deteriorate.
The end result? Your mouth can take on a sunken-in look as your bone begins to disappear, changing the entire landscape of your face. This also causes your existing teeth to start to shift around, causing many more dental headaches down the road.
2. A new member of the family
An implant involves putting a metal post into your jawline to act as the new “root” for your prosthetic tooth. As soon as we place the post, your body goes to work welcoming the root replacement, fusing it into your jawbone by growing bone up around it. This means that your new tooth will be as sturdy, if not sturdier, than the tooth it’s replacing.
3. No wiggle room
A dental implant offers a much more stable solution than bridges or partial dentures. These devices, while effective, still never completely function as well as your natural teeth. Often, partial dentures can slide around or shift, making you very aware of their impermanence. With a dental implant, you’ll chew and smile with ease, knowing that your new tooth is firmly in place and working seamlessly with the rest of your teeth.
4. No collateral damage
Let’s face it, when you lose a tooth, it represents enough damage as it is. With other replacement options, you often have to disrupt and prepare the neighboring teeth to act as anchors for your prosthetic device. With a dental implant, it’s a standalone procedure that leaves you neighboring teeth well enough alone.
5. It goes the distance
Once we install your dental implant, there’s no reason why it can’t provide you with a solution that lasts a lifetime. While bridges and dentures often need replacing, a dental implant goes the distance, working side by side with your natural teeth without the need for any extra vigilance. Of course, you still need to take care of your implant as you would your other teeth.
6. End of the dental road
While losing a tooth isn’t ideal, dental implants offer a wonderful solution that relieves you of the problems that your natural teeth may still present. For example, you won’t ever have to worry about tooth decay and cavities with your strong replacement tooth. After your time in our chair getting your dental implant, you can rest assured you won’t be hearing a drill on that tooth ever again.
If you’d like to explore dental implants further, we invite you to call us at Doueck Dental & Sleep Medicine, or schedule a consultation using the booking tool on this website.