Your teeth are designed to last a lifetime, but sometimes things happen that require a tooth to be replaced. It is important to your whole body health and to the health of your other teeth to replace missing teeth. Not only do you lose chewing ability when a tooth is lost, but unreplaced teeth can cause other teeth to be move and create other subsequent problems. There are many benefits to dental implants:
...Conservation of natural teeth.
Traditional dentistry has replaced a missing tooth via a ‘fixed bridge’. This involves preparing the adjacent teeth for crowns to cement or bond the bridge into place. If the adjacent teeth are broken down, and weak from large ‘fillings’ this is a reasonable option, but not when the adjacent teeth are fine. Implants allow replacement of just the missing tooth and no alteration of the adjacent teeth.
...Lower maintenance
This does not imply implants are ‘bionic’. Everything in life requires maintenance and implants are no different. Since Implants are metal, they have can not decay, they have no nerve to abscess, or become painful, and don’t interfere with adjacent teeth that could cause food entrapment. Implants do require ongoing gingival care such as periodic cleaning from the hygienist, and daily home care to avoid infection occurring around the gums.
...Security and Confidence
Especially for those who have struggled trying to live and eat with loose dentures and partials, this is the biggest benefit by far. No more irritating denture sore spots, no embarrassing slips while trying to eat or laugh, and no having to avoid difficult to chew foods in public. or struggling with speech problems associated with loose teeth.
...Restoration of a normal diet!
With the loss of natural teeth, the ability to chew effectively is diminished by as much as 80%. This is can essentially make many denture wearers a ‘dental cripple’ that not only reduces the enjoyment of eating and chewing, but also compromises the nutritional aspect of eating a proper diet.
...Conservation of gums and cheek support.
Loss of teeth is eventually accompanied by loss of gum structure and the ridges which once held the teeth in place. This eventually makes dentures less stable for chewing, more uncomfortable to keep in place, and less able to support the cheeks and lips for a normal appearance
Every need is different just as everyone's solution may vary.
Dr. Reese will be happy to discuss different options of using dental implants. Dr. Reese is uniquely qualified to not only place the implants, but to meet your needs to plan your treatment to fit into your budget and expectations!