If you’re missing one or more teeth, you’ve got lots of company. How much? Well, the American College of Prosthodontists says you’re 1 of about 120 million American adults who are missing at least one tooth.
That’s a lot of people — and every one of them (you, too) is at an increased risk of other oral health problems that can follow closely on the heels of tooth loss. Fortunately, dental implants can help you reduce those risks and improve your smile aesthetics.
As a top-ranked dentist in Reston, Virginia, Aramesh Darvishian, DDS, is a leading provider of dental implants for patients at Perfect Smiles of Reston, using state-of-the-art techniques for optimal results. Wondering if implants are right for you? Here are five reasons why dental implants are often considered the gold standard for replacing missing teeth.
#1: They’re very comfortable
Dental implants have three components: a post that’s embedded in your jaw, an artificial tooth (or crown), and a connector piece called an abutment. This design mimics the structure of your natural teeth, with the post serving as the tooth root.
Because the crown is directly attached to your jaw bone, dental implants are very comfortable. In fact, once your implant is in place, it will feel, look, and work just like a natural tooth.
#2: They look like your own teeth
Although dentures have improved considerably over the past couple of decades, many people still worry that traditional dentures don’t look quite as “real” as natural teeth. The result: Many people find their dentures make them feel self-conscious when they’re interacting with others.
Dental implants are custom-crafted, with each individual tooth carefully shaped to mimic your natural tooth contours and shade. As a result, implants tend to have a more natural appearance that blends in beautifully with your surrounding teeth.
#3: They function like natural teeth
With dentures, there’s a definite breaking-in period of adjustment. Afterward, most people become used to the way their dentures work — but that doesn’t mean they’re completely comfortable with them.
Because they sit on top of your gums, dentures are prone to slipping. Not only can that cause a lot of embarrassment during social outings, but over time, slipping can also create sore spots and even infections in your gum tissue.
Dental implant posts are embedded in your jawbone, so they’re super secure, eliminating the risk of slipping. Plus, you don’t have to worry about avoiding very sticky foods or other foods you might need to avoid with dentures.
#4: They’re easy to care for
Taking care of dentures isn’t exactly rocket science. But to keep your dentures clean and fresh, some special care is required.
When you have implants, you care for them just like you care for your natural teeth. That means regular brushing and flossing and routine trips to the dentist to make sure your implants are in good shape and your gums stay healthy.
#5: They promote healthy jawbone — and possibly prevent future tooth loss
This is one of the most unique benefits of implants. Like other bones in your body, your jaw bone depends on continual replacement of “old” bone tissue to stay strong and continue to support your teeth. In turn, that replacement process depends on regular stimulation by your tooth roots.
When you’re missing a tooth, those roots are gone, too, and that means that that area of your jaw doesn’t get the stimulation it needs to continue to replenish itself. Over time, the jaw bone thins out, and the support it provides to neighboring teeth diminishes. Without that support, those teeth tend to weaken, eventually falling out.
With dental implants, the post is embedded in your jawbone, where it acts as a “replacement” root. Just like the natural tooth root before it, the post stimulates jawbone replacement, helping to keep the bone in that area healthy and strong and reducing the risk of future missing teeth.
Learn more about dental implants
Dental implants offer plenty of benefits, but despite that, they’re not always the ideal choice for every patient. To find out if implants are a good solution for replacing your missing teeth, book an appointment online or over the phone with Perfect Smiles of Reston today.