Why Dental Implants are Important to Your Smile

Having a missing tooth can be a real problem, and not just for cosmetic reasons. Your jawbone can deteriorate without the presence of a tooth, or surrounding teeth can shift into the space left by the missing tooth. Bridges or dentures are one possible solution, but dental implants are far superior for a number of reasons. If you have a missing tooth, your Buckingham dentist can restore both the look and function of your original tooth with an implant.

What is a dental implant?

A dental implant is an artificial tooth constructed from titanium, an exceptionally strong and biologically inert metal. Your new dental implant creates a strong bond with underlying bone tissue. It is noncorrosive and will not be rejected by your immune system. In fact, your body will accept the implant as a natural part of itself to provide both the appearance and function of a normal tooth.

What are the benefits of dental implants?

Dental implants offer numerous benefits, including:

• Improved appearance. A dental implant appears and feels like your original tooth.
• Improved speech. Dentures can slip and cause you to slur or mumble your words.
• Improved comfort.
• Durable and convenient.
• No difficulties when eating.

Dental Implants Preserve Bone

If you have a missing tooth, the jawbone in the area will begin to deteriorate, or resorb. This can even have a negative impact on your facial appearance. Your dental implant will serve as a substitute tooth root and function precisely as your original tooth root. This will stimulate the bone and prevent the resorption of bone matter that would otherwise occur.

Implants Preserve Surrounding Teeth

When a tooth is missing, not only will bone begin to resorb, but neighboring teeth begin drifting into this missing space. Your new implant will serve as a substitute tooth root. Other tooth replacement techniques require adjacent teeth to be altered to make room for a bridge or denture, which actually compromises their long-term health.

What should I expect at my appointment?

The dental implant procedure is pretty straightforward. Your Buckingham dentist can complete the process in just two visits. Your first appointment is when we place the implant in your jawbone. It will seamlessly integrate with your bone tissue over the following months. After that, which normally takes anywhere from four to eight months, we will complete the process on your second appointment. At this time, we will attach your implant to the titanium post that we positioned during your first visit.

Contact Us

If you have a missing tooth, a dental implant is the best treatment option available to preserve your smile and protect your health. Please reach out to Highpoint Dental Medicine today to schedule your dental implant consultation.