Dental Implants: 6 Reasons Why You Should Get Them

If your tooth is damaged beyond repair, consider getting a dental implant. If you are missing a tooth, an implant will be a great way to fill that gap. There are many reasons why you should choose a dental implant to replace a tooth, and here are a few of them.

1. Dental implants are permanent

Dentures and bridges are two common ways of replacing missing teeth, but they are not as durable or as permanent as dental implants.

As they age, dentures fit poorly and slip off as a person chews or talks, causing much discomfort. This is why those with dentures need to visit their dentist to refit or replace their dentures over the years. Time takes its toll on dental bridges as well. The teeth on which a bridge is anchored may wear down, causing the bridge to come loose.

Dental implants have none of these shortcomings.

2. They are comfortable and convenient

Dental implants attach to the jaw, where the surrounding bone eventually grows and fuses with the implant. Because the implant integrates with the jawbone, it is as stable and as strong as a natural tooth.

This means that implant-supported crowns grind and bite just like natural teeth.

These artificial teeth are also easy to clean. An implant-supported crown is cleaned along with the other teeth; there is no special cleaning routine needed. In contrast, extra care and attention is necessary when cleaning the gum on which a dental bridge rests.

3. They are good for the teeth and jaw

A jaw that has a missing tooth begins to lose bone density, but dental implants can prevent this bone loss from happening. When the dentist places an implant, they prepare the implant site by drilling a small depression into the bone. This causes the jaw to repair itself and grow around the implant. With an implant in place, the jaw maintains its shape and density.

A missing tooth will cause the remaining teeth to shift toward each other in an attempt to close the gap. This results in misaligned and crooked teeth. An implant-supported artificial tooth fills the space left by the missing tooth and keeps the rest of the teeth from shifting.

4. They help maintain the shape of the face

The jaws give structure to the face, so when missing teeth cause the jaw to lose bone density, the face starts to collapse into itself. Because there is now less jawbone with which to keep the skin in place, the skin around the mouth and lower part of the face will begin to sag.

Implants help to prevent this by maintaining the jaw's structure.

5. They make it easier to speak

Losing a tooth makes it hard for a person to say certain words, but a dental implant provides an artificial tooth that functions exactly like a real tooth. Like a natural tooth, an implant-supported crown will get rid of a speech impediment brought on by a gap in the teeth.

6. Dental implants improve a person's smile

Because implant-supported crowns look like natural teeth, they restore the patient's smile to its former glory.

Do not settle for less

If you need a tooth replaced, choose a permanent option that will make you forget that you ever lost a natural tooth. See a dentist and start the process of getting a dental implant.

Request an appointment here: https://okamotoandbigleydentistry.com or call Okamoto and Bigley Dentistry at (626) 472-2178 for an appointment in our Pasadena office.