For generations, dentures have been one of the most common solutions for patients who were missing one or more teeth. Over the recent decades, we’ve seen a rising tide of patients taking advantage of the solutions available from advanced dental technology. As a result, dental implants have risen to be the most popular form of dental restoration and replacement options on the market. Dental implants deliver significant benefits over traditional dentures and are increasingly affordable for the average patient.
How Dental Implants Protect Your Gums and Remaining Healthy Teeth
Ever wonder why dentists avoid extracting teeth if there’s any way to preserve your natural teeth when restoration options are available? Root canals, fillings, crowns, inlays and onlays, and other procedures are used to preserve the systemic health of your mouth. When a tooth is lost, the rest of your teeth have to pick up the slack, causing them to experience advanced wear and tear. This extra strain not only causes your teeth to wear down faster, but it also can cause them to shift out of position. Even worse, missing teeth cause the gums and jawbone to shrink at the points they were removed. Dental implants bring with them a variety of benefits:
- Titanium Promotes Bone Growth – Dental implants are mounted on titanium screws that are placed into your jawbone. Titanium has been discovered to encourage bone growth and will ultimately fuse with the bone, becoming part of your body. This offers protection against bone loss not available with dentures.
- Natural Appearance – Since dental implants don’t shift and are physically connected to your jawbone, they look and act in a way that’s more natural than dentures. In addition, there are fewer restrictions on what kinds of food you can eat, a common problem faced by those with dentures.
- Easy To Care For – Dental implants are as easy to care for as your natural teeth. A simple dental hygiene routine of brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash will keep your dental implants appearing as bright and beautiful as the day they were put in. Some varieties of implants can be removed by the patient, but the majority will only be removed twice a year during your dental visits.
What To Expect When Getting Dental Implants
The dental implant procedure typically takes place in two steps. The first stage involves a surgical procedure during which the titanium mounting points are inserted into the jawbone. The gums are closed over the surgical site to give the jaw and gums time to heal. Once the recovery process is complete, you will return to the clinic to have abutments attached to the top of these screws. These abutments will serve as the connecting points for your final dental replacements. This whole process can take from three to six months to complete. If you want to determine if dental implants are a good solution for your dental replacement needs, give our offices a call and schedule a consultation with Dr. Robert Berg and his team today!
