Losing a tooth to trauma, decay, or gum disease is never part of the plan, but it’s a reality for approximately 178 million adults in the United States. When it happens, dental implants offer a permanent, natural-looking way to restore your smile.
For expert restorations in Chicago, Illinois, turn to Kimberly Chan, DDS, and Jeannie Moskin, DDS, at Moskin Dental Associates. We provide a range of solutions to help patients regain the comfort and confidence that comes with a full, healthy set of teeth.
Are you considering dental implant surgery to address a tooth gap? Here are three surprising benefits you should know about.
Each time you bite down or chew, the pressure travels down through the tooth root to stimulate your jawbone. When a tooth is missing, the lack of activity in the area tells your body that the bone is no longer needed and it gradually shrinks away — a process known as resorption.
A lack of bone volume can eventually cause the surrounding soft tissue to collapse inward, resulting in a sunken appearance and deep wrinkles that prematurely age you.
Unlike dentures or bridges, which sit on top of the gums, dental implants replace the entire structure of your tooth. The titanium post fuses with the jawbone to act as a new “root,” providing the necessary stimulation to keep the tissue healthy and your facial contours intact.
A tooth gap makes it difficult to chew certain foods, leading many people to miss out on their favorite meals and, in some cases, necessary nutrients. Even well-fitting dentures can have trouble handling tough or crunchy foods without slipping.
Dental implants provide the same biting force as your natural teeth, which means you can return to a healthy, varied diet as soon as your mouth heals. When you’re not planning your meals around what your teeth can and can’t handle, you have the freedom to enjoy the foods you love.
Teeth rely on their neighbors for stability and to stay properly aligned within the jaw. When you’re missing a tooth, the adjacent teeth may begin to shift and loosen, increasing the risk of oral health issues and further tooth loss.
A dental bridge is one solution. It fills the gap with one or more prosthetic teeth held in place by the natural ones on either side. However, the preparation process requires grinding down the healthy enamel of those natural teeth to fit the bridge over them.
Because implants bond directly to the jawbone, there’s typically no need to alter the neighboring teeth. It’s a simple solution that protects the long-term health of your smile.
Don’t let a missing tooth dictate what you eat or how you feel when you look in the mirror. To find out if dental implants are the right tooth restoration choice for you, contact Moskin Dental Associates online or by phone today.
