A smile is one of your most prominent facial features. Consequently, tooth loss is one of the most visible dental problems, and can significantly affect your confidence and quality of life. If you’ve lost one or more teeth and are searching to replace them, then you may be familiar with dental implants, and how they’re the only dental treatment that replaces lost teeth roots.
Dental implants mimic the stable foundation (roots) that allow healthy teeth to continuously absorb the impact of biting and chewing. By attaching a dental crown, bridge, or denture to one or more dental implants, you can once again enjoy the comfort, function, and beauty of a natural, healthy smile.
The Cosmetic Impact of Tooth Loss
Tooth loss isn’t an illness or disease itself, but rather the result of severe dental disease or extensive dental damage. Human adult teeth were meant to last a lifetime, and their presence provides more than just the ability to bite and chew. The stimulation of biting and chewing everyday facilitates a healthy flow of blood to the jawbone in which teeth roots are embedded.
Losing that stimulation results in fewer nutrients as well as jawbone resorption (deterioration) that can lead to further tooth loss. Facial structures, such as lips and cheeks, are also meant to accommodate a full set of teeth, and any vacancies can cause these structures to sag and make patients appear older than their years.
Dental Implants Support More than Replacement Teeth
The support of a strong foundation can allow any dental prosthesis to closely emulate the strength and durability of natural teeth. Dental implants help restore the functions of lost teeth roots, such as maintaining a strong and healthy jawbone, to ensure the longevity of your new, lifelike replacement teeth.