Avoid Possible Oral Health Issues With Dental Implants
The repercussions of permanent tooth loss can affect more than just your appearance. Gaps in your smile left by missing teeth can lead to serious long-term damage to your oral and overall health. To help prevent any damage to your teeth, gums, jaw, and face, receiving restorative care with dental implants can quickly improve your oral health and well-being.
Dr. Sheehan describes what can happen over time if you leave your smile with permanent spaces between teeth or you’re missing your entire set of teeth.
1
Loss of functionality
Have you ever tried to eat a big juicy apple or a tough steak when you’re missing teeth? You’ll find it very difficult to chew these nutritious foods when you don’t have one of your front teeth or you’re missing your back molar. This experience is far from enjoyable as you struggle with each bite and your daily eating habits are vastly weakened.
Another obstacle you may encounter when living without a full set of teeth is that it can impair your ability to speak and keep up in conversation. Some words may be more difficult to pronounce and others may find it slightly harder to understand what you’re saying.
Our natural-looking dental implant solutions fill in your undesired spaces between your teeth and help restore a fully-functioning smile.
2
Higher chance of oral infection
Empty sockets left behind by missing teeth create a hard-to-reach space where bacteria and plaque can accumulate, making it harder to clean out. This can make your mouth much more susceptible to oral infections, like gum disease, that can lead to tooth decay. These infections can weaken your gum tissue and jeopardize the success of your implant procedure.
To avoid any risk of gum disease or tooth decay, proper oral care at home is crucial, as well as visiting our Waterford office as soon as you can to see if you qualify for dental implants.
3
Weakening of the jawbone
Neglecting your smile when it’s suffering from tooth loss can also guide any neighboring teeth to move into the empty spaces which can force your jawbone to deteriorate. Your jawbone relies on your teeth and their roots to provide proper stimulation when you’re chewing and biting down. Therefore, when your teeth are gone, your jawbone isn’t receiving the stimulation it needs to maintain its structure. This will weaken your jaw and it will begin to lose its shape.
Luckily, dental implants are the only restorative treatment that can fully protect your jaw and prevent it from any further bone loss. Once you receive implants, you won’t have to worry about losing your jawbone any longer.
4
Premature wrinkling
Known as resorption, absent tooth roots cause the jawbone to weaken and ultimately shrink. As the jawbone shrinks, your facial structure changes. Many begin to lose their youthful appearance because of sunken, saggy cheeks and shriveled lips.
In order to protect the jaw and stop your facial appearance from changing, dental implants are your optimal solution.
5
Your psychological state is harmed
No one should ever feel embarrassed to flash their own smile. Although some smiles may have flaws and imperfections in your eyes, others may see it as unique and beautiful. If you’re ashamed to smile because of missing teeth, seek out treatment with dental implants. This restorative treatment will help you regain your confidence to smile again and generate happiness for yourself as well as the people who surround you.
6
Increased pain in your mouth
A major downfall of tooth loss is that it’ll leave your mouth vulnerable to pain and discomfort. When teeth are missing, it doesn’t take long for you to experience sensitivity or pain in each empty area. Living with these spaces in your mouth can also encourage plaque to settle between your teeth, posing a risk of infection.
Dental implants are made to protect your gums and your remaining teeth from any damage, pain, or irritation as they act like your natural tooth root.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of dental implants compared to dentures?
There are so many reasons you might prefer dental implants over dentures for your smile restoration needs! The main advantages of dental implants compared to dentures are:
- Dental implants are permanent.
- Dental implants look and act like your natural teeth.
- Unlike dentures, dental implants can prevent jaw bone loss. Dentures can actually accelerate bone loss.
- Implants don’t need to be removed for cleaning.
- Implants don’t require messy adhesives.
- Dental implants will never slip out of place.
- Implant recipients don’t need to worry about the discomfort and embarrassment of ill-fitting dentures.
Which dental implant solution is right for me?
At our Waterford office, we offer a number of dental implant solutions to restore the health, function, and beauty of your smile. Whether you’re missing a single tooth or an entire arch, Dr. Sheehan has a solution that’ll work for you.
The best tooth replacement solution for your smile depends on your individual needs and the specifics of your case. During your consultation, Dr. Sheehan will consider several factors as she creates your personalized treatment plan. Schedule your consultation by calling (248) 742-5566 to find out more about our implant solutions and how we can help you.