When a tooth has been lost or extracted, many patients are primarily concerned with the effects on the smile’s appearance. More importantly, however, tooth loss can have a negative impact on a patient’s oral health. Choosing dental implants is the best way for patients to protect their oral health against the detrimental outcomes of tooth loss.
People lose their permanent teeth for various reasons. A traumatic injury can dislodge a tooth or damage it so severely that the tooth cannot be saved. The inflammation associated with advanced periodontal disease can also attack bone and connective tissue, resulting in the loss of teeth. Advanced decay can also lead to a tooth’s extraction.
Regardless of the cause, tooth loss has wide-reaching effects. When a tooth is lost, the jawbone will eventually atrophy as well. This process can lead to further damage and the loss of additional teeth. An implant dentist can help to mitigate these issues.
Unlike alternatives like bridges and dentures, dental implants are the only tooth replacement method that mimics the entire structure of the tooth, including its root. The implant itself, a titanium screw, is able to integrate with the bone, essentially replicating the biological tooth’s root and preventing jawbone erosion.
Beyond its effects on the stability of the jawbone, tooth loss can influence other aspects of a patient’s well-being. A dental implant allows patients to maintain a normal diet. There’s no need to give up healthy foods like apples, baby carrots or celery sticks.
Although aesthetic concern is not the most important reason to replace a missing tooth with a dental implant, having a beautiful, full smile does boost the self-esteem. In this way, dental implants benefit patients’ mental health, too.
If you have already lost one tooth–or more–to gum disease or decay, take steps to protect your remaining teeth even if you choose a dental implant for tooth replacement. Be sure to brush your teeth twice each day and floss daily. Good oral hygiene can prevent further tooth loss.
If you are interested in tooth replacement, contact Dakota Prosthodontics & Implant Center to speak with one of our caring team members and set up a consultation.
