If you have a missing tooth, then you may work with your dentist to schedule a restoration. Restorations include dental implants. Dental implants are permanent devices that look and feel as close to the original teeth as possible. This is often the main advantage of choosing implants that most patients feel strongly about. However, there are a variety of other benefits that you likely know very little about. Keep reading to learn about a few.
Stronger Jaw Bone
When you lose a tooth, the jaw will fill in the socket with new bone cells during a process called remodeling. Remodeling occurs constantly across all bones in the body, and the movement of the bones and joints helps with the remodeling process. Specifically, the use of the bones and pressure against them helps to stimulate the release of old bone cells and the creation of new ones.
After you lose a tooth and the bone fills in, the tooth socket area will not longer be stimulated. This causes the bone to deteriorate in the region and bone loss will continue until an indentation forms in the area. This can cause the jaw to weaken as a whole and the adult teeth near the lost tooth may shift, move, and loosen in response.
If you replace the missing tooth soon after it is lost, then the jaw will be stimulated. This is most likely to happen when a dental implant is secured. Since the implant contains a root that is similar to a natural tooth root, bone stimulation is nearly the same as it would be if the natural root was still present. This means the bone will remain strong.
Improved Gum Health
There are a wide variety of restorations that can be chosen that are far less invasive than a dental implant. However, if you choose a device like a bridge or a partial denture, for example, there will be a small gap between the artificial tooth and the gum tissues that sit just below it. This gap can fill with food and plaque and lead to a gum infection problem.
Since dental implants sit deep in the gum tissues and jaw like a natural tooth, you can clean around the implant like you do the rest of your teeth. Normal brushing and flossing practices will remove debris and keep gingivitis at bay.
Dental implant restorations are highly advantageous when used to replace the teeth. If you want to know about more benefits of whether an implant is right for you, then speak with a dentist, such as Gregory T Grubba.
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