Tooth loss is very common. A recent study found that 178 million Americans have lost at least one tooth, and 40 million Americans don’t have any of their natural teeth. If you lose a tooth, you need to get it replaced to protect your oral health.
At Skyview Dentistry in Charlotte, North Carolina, highly skilled dentists Seti Byrd, DMD, Jennifer D’Silva, DDS, and David Bunn, DDS, provide a full range of cosmetic and general dental services in a warm and welcoming environment. When it comes to replacing missing teeth, they believe dental implants are the best option. In this blog they explain why.
Why replace a lost tooth?
Whether from an injury, gum disease, or tooth decay, a lost tooth leaves an empty space in your mouth that can affect how you chew and speak. In addition, the empty space in your mouth can cause your other teeth to shift around and also cause your jawbone to deteriorate in that area due to the lack of stimulation.
What are dental implants?
A dental implant is a treatment that is used to replace a missing tooth. With a dental implant, your dentist first places a metal post where your tooth’s root used to be. Then your dentist places a false tooth on the end of that post. When the surgery is completed, the only thing anyone will see is the false tooth — which will match your other teeth — so no one will know you had a procedure.
Why are dental implants the best replacement option?
Dental implants are superior to other teeth replacement options for a number of important reasons. They include the following:
1. Prevent bone loss
When you chew, your teeth push into your jaws, thus stimulating your jaws to produce new bone tissue. If you lose a tooth, your jaw will no longer be stimulated in that area. If a jaw doesn't get stimulated in a certain area, it can begin to deteriorate in that location. A dental implant acts just as a natural tooth and provides stimulation to your jawbone.
2. Comfortable
Your implant will feel and function like the rest of your teeth. You’ll be able to speak and chew like normal, and you won’t notice a difference between your implant and the rest of your teeth.
3. Very secure
Dental implants are mounted securely. Your implant won’t shift around when you eat or talk as can happen with dentures. Furthermore, when it comes to your dental hygiene routine, you’ll treat it just like your other teeth and brush and floss it like normal.
4. Highly durable
Dental implants are a permanent solution to tooth loss, not a temporary solution to the problem. If a dental implant is properly cared for, it can last for 25 years or longer.
5. Chew and speak normally
A dental implant is the closest option to a natural tooth. It will allow you to speak and chew as normally as you did before your tooth loss.
If you’ve lost a tooth, you need to get it replaced to protect your jaw and your ability to eat and speak well. To see if a dental implant can help you, book an appointment online or over the phone with Skyview Dentistry today.