Your teeth serve several important functions. They enable you to speak and chew food properly, and they preserve your jawbone.
When you lose a tooth and don’t replace it, the space left behind sends a message to the jawbone that its work is done and it is no longer needed. The bone begins to deteriorate. Neighboring teeth start to drift into the space, and opposing teeth may begin to erupt more than they should. Over time, this can change your bite, cause abnormal tooth wear, and even lead to major bite collapse.
Dental implants are the next best thing to natural teeth. They are the most effective dental solution to one or more missing teeth, because they are a long-term, fixed solution.
There are three parts to an implant. The implant itself is made of titanium and is placed into the jawbone to act as the tooth root. It gradually integrates itself into the bone. The abutment connects the implant to the crown. The crown is the restoration that is screwed or cemented onto the abutment. The crown is made of ceramic or porcelain and is matched to the shade of your existing teeth.
Additional benefits of dental implants:
- You can live your life without being constantly concerned about your dental restoration falling out because implants are permanent.
- Implants help prevent a prematurely aged appearance and preserve your natural facial shape by providing support to the lips, cheeks and gums.
- Eat all the foods you like because implants make it possible for you to bite and chew naturally.
- Cavity-free life! Dental implants can’t decay. However, a good home care regimen still is necessary to protect your gums and any remaining natural teeth.
- This type of restoration doesn’t get removed for cleaning, and unlike with dentures, you can laugh and speak without fear of anything clicking or slipping out of place.