Until recently, if you lost a permanent tooth, there weren’t many different options for tooth replacement. For many years, bridges and dentures were really the only ways to restore your smile to a healthy, youthful appearance. However, both these require a lot of maintenance and don’t provide the same functionality as natural teeth.
Dental implants are a long-lasting, modern solution for tooth loss that promotes the growth of jawbone tissue, preserving your oral health, while also feeling and functioning like normal teeth. Dr. Kush Patel and Dr. Krutav Patel of Fullerton Craft Smiles are leading implant and cosmetic dentists in Fullerton, CA who have many combined years of experience helping patients restore their smile and confidence. Read on for 4 things they’d like you to keep in mind when weighing your tooth replacement options.
1. Implants last a lifetime
Because they are surgically inserted in the jawbone, dental implants can last for the rest of your life with proper care. The false tooth attached to the implant, called the crown, may require occasional replacing due to normal wear and tear, but the implant screw, inserted into the jawbone, lasts many years. You must visit your dentist for regular check-ups to make sure your implant is still functioning correctly and the surrounding tissues are healthy.
2. Dental implants keep your jawbone healthy
While replacing missing teeth may seem like only a cosmetic concern, having a gap in the jawbone can actually trigger bone to recede, potentially resulting in crowding the neighboring teeth or changing the jawbone structure itself. This is the primary cause of a sunken appearance to the face that many people with dentures have and can lead to more complicated dental problems.
Dental implants serve as the root of the missing tooth, which keeps the surrounding tissues in the right place. This keeps your surrounding teeth healthy while preserving the health and structure of your jawbone.
3. Implants protect healthy teeth
In addition to keeping the jawbone healthy, dental implants preserve the health of the teeth surrounding the missing tooth as well. Dental bridges, which are an older method of tooth replacement, involve grinding down the enamel on the surrounding teeth so that they can serve as anchor points for the bridge. Implants are placed directly into the jawbone and do not need to be anchored by other teeth. This means that the only teeth that are affected by this treatment are the ones that need to be replaced.
4. Implants feel and function like natural teeth
Dental implants allow you to eat and brush your teeth just as you would with your natural teeth. Other tooth replacement options such as bridges and removable dentures need to be removed for specialized cleaning (dentures) and maintenance (dentures and bridges) and are less comfortable than implants. Unlike these older options, dental implants can be cleaned just like your natural teeth without any additional steps.
Dental Implants in Fullerton, CA
Implants are a long-term investment in the future of your oral health. Fullerton Craft Smiles, in Fullerton, CA, is dedicated to the long term maintenance of a comfortable, healthy smile that provides confidence and the best possible quality of life. Schedule your comprehensive consultation online or call us at (714) 888-7008 to start restoring your smile and confidence today.