Royal Oak and Birmingham, MI
Have you lost any of your permanent teeth? If so, you’re not alone… far from it, in fact! According to data compiled by the American College of Prosthodontists, more than 120 million individuals in America have lost at least one permanent tooth. When it comes to replacing lost teeth, dental implants are the superior choice. A well-maintained implant can last the rest of your life, and no other tooth replacement option looks and feels more like a real tooth. But did you know that implants also can benefit your other teeth? Learn more in the latest installment of the blog.
A dental implant is the only self-supporting tooth replacement
Receiving a dental bridge to replace missing teeth relies on your other natural teeth to provide some form of support. In a bridge procedure, a crown usually is placed on the neighboring tooth on either side to help distribute the biting and chewing forces and make sure the bridge does not experience a failure. An implant, however, supports itself because the titanium implant screw is inserted directly into your jawbone. This implant provides stability and all the support needed to withstand biting and chewing forces, without increasing the burden on any of your other natural teeth.
Implants prevent the deterioration of your jawbone
Arguably the greatest advantage of receiving a dental implant in Knoxville to replace a lost tooth is that it is the only way to safeguard against the deterioration of your supporting bone structure. Otherwise, this is inevitable even with diligent oral hygiene. Your jawbone receives constant stimulation from the tooth root. Without that stimulation, the body begins a process known as resorption and your jawbone will start to weaken. This can affect the strength and stability of the adjacent teeth, making them vulnerable to being lost as well. A dental implant replaces the tooth root itself and provides that otherwise irreplaceable stimulation to the jawbone.
Implants help you maintain your dental hygiene
All you need to clean a dental implant is your toothbrush and floss. Because an implant is fixed in the mouth, you clean it by brushing it just like a real tooth. Any type of removable denture, however, can become a breeding ground for cavity-causing bacteria and plaque against your natural teeth—even if the denture itself is cleaned on a regular basis—because food can trap in the clasps that support the denture. You always can remove the denture before you eat, but then you lose that chewing ability and with it one of the main reasons that people replace lost teeth in the first place.
Replace lost teeth with dental implants in Royal Oak and Birmingham, Michigan
In the unfortunate event that you lose a permanent tooth, having a dental implant can help to protect the other teeth in your mouth from problems. If you want to learn more about the benefits of a dental implant to replace your lost teeth, Dr. Nancy Hartrick can help you. Just call our office at (865) 269-6688 to schedule your consultation.