When a tooth is lost, many people consider dental implants as a tooth replacement option because the space left in their mouth isn’t exactly aesthetically pleasing. Who wants to walk around looking like they just lost a boxing match, right?
Aside from a person’s physical appearance, however, getting a tooth replaced is also very important to your oral health, and lacking a tooth can escalate into bigger problems than you could have anticipated the longer you wait.
Why Replace aMissing Tooth?
Teeth serve many purposes when it comes to the strength and functionality of your mouth. After all, teeth weren’t just put in your mouth for decoration. Teeth help you bite and chew your food, and they need to remain strong and intact to do that.
Now, if you’re thinking “It’s not like I can’t chew with one tooth gone,” you may want to rethink. Teeth also help keep your jawbone strong and prevent bone deterioration. If a tooth is lost and not replaced, the jawbone begins to weaken and deteriorate because of the stimulus and pressure of chewing keep the jawbone functioning and healthy. If there is no stimulus or pressure in a portion of the jaw because a tooth is missing, that area will weaken and, if left alone, lose function and lead to bone loss.
Having a missing tooth is like having a house with a broken foundation... if one part is missing the whole thing could very well collapse. With dental implants, you’re replacing the missing part of the foundation, keeping the jawbone strong and functional.
Of course, having all your teeth makes your smile look beautiful! An unsightly gap in your mouth may lead to you feeling self-conscious, making you hide your smile in family reunion photos or at your child’s birthday party. Dental implants can cure these confidence issues! With dental implants, you’ll not only be able to flash a dazzling smile to your friends and family, but eat, drink, smile, laugh, and be yourself without worrying about the tooth gap. Your social life and career prospects are saved!
The Dental Implant Procedure
Although replacing a missing tooth is a serious matter, the two-part procedure is pretty straight-forward.
In the first part of the procedure, a bone graft may be made if you’ve already experienced bone loss in the jawbone due to the missing tooth. A bone graft is when the dentist takes a little bit of healthy bone from one part of the jaw to replace what was lost in the damaged area. But don’t worry! This is typically done under oral sedation or general anaesthesia, so you won’t feel any discomfort. Once sufficient bone is available to accommodate the dental implant, the dentist installs a titanium screw in the jawbone. Part one of the procedure is complete!
Once your dental implant surgery is complete, you may receive a temporary crown to put on the implant that same day. If a bone graft was necessary, the jawbone may not be ready to bear the load of chewing right away and you’ll have to wait a few weeks for the surgical site to heal. During that time, the dental implant fuses to the jawbone to create a strong foundation for the implant crown.
When your dentist is satisfied that your dental implant is strong enough to withstand everyday chewing function, a permanent crown will be placed on top of your implant. Congratulations! You are now ready to enjoy your new smile!
Strong, Stronger, Dental Implant
If you’re beginning to think replacing your missing tooth is more necessary than you initially thought, then you are right. Dental implants are considered the gold standard of tooth replacement, with many benefits for the appearance, functionality, and health of your smile. If you feel like dental implants are the right solution for you, talk to your trusted dental implant dentist and get your smile back!
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