At Evolution Dental, we love implants for many reasons: they improve your smile drastically, they’re permanent, and they actually help out your oral health quite a bit. Today, our blog post focuses on how this premier tooth replacement option helps your oral health.
But first, what are implants? Implants themselves are small titanium rods placed into your jaw. They act like a natural tooth root, and your jawbone will grow around the implant to keep it strong.
But the implant isn’t the part you’ll see. The part you’ll see are the stunning restorations that we place on top. These restorations range from a single porcelain crown to a bridge to fixed dentures. The restorations we use is based on how many teeth need replacing or restoring.
Life Without a Tooth Root
Tooth roots are essential parts of the tooth, even though they’re invisible to us when we smile. The root is what connects the tooth to the jawbone, making it difficult to remove or knock out. When the root deteriorates or breaks, that is often when a tooth falls out.
You would think that if the tooth was gone, then having the root be gone isn’t such a big deal, but unfortunately, that isn’t quite true. The root of the tooth supports the jawbone too, it’s a relationship that benefits them both. If you lose a tooth root, your jawbone decreases in density over time.
A less dense jawbone can lead to:
- Facial sagging
- TMJ pain
- Weak teeth
- And even a broken jawbone
As you can see, a tooth root is an essential part of your whole body being healthy!
Implants Act as a Tooth Root
Thankfully, you don’t need to worry about your tooth root being lost forever. Dental implants act as a tooth root, securing and strengthening your jawbone.
Titanium is hypoallergenic and will work with your body to support your new tooth.
The Magic of Osseointegration
Osseointegration is what happens when your jawbone accepts the implant and begins to grow and form around the implant, permanently securing it. Your body benefits from having an implant in your mouth!
The process of osseointegration promotes the regeneration of bone, which in turn preserves and even promotes a healthy jawbone density.
Filling a Gap in Your Smile
Not only do implants fill a gap in your jawbone, but they fill a gap in your smile. Implants can:
- Prevent teeth from shifting
- Limit infections
- Promote better gum health
- Improve digestion and chewing
The post and the restoration together are what make an implant such a powerful tool in restorative dentistry. When you fill a gap in your smile with an implant, your other teeth and gums will treat it like a regular tooth.
If left, the gap is susceptible to getting infected or having the gums decay around it, which is why replacing a tooth as early as possible is a good practice.
Permanent Solutions
Some solutions for damaged or missing teeth need to be replaced once every ten to twenty years. Thankfully implants are designed to last a lifetime. This means that you only need to recover from a dental surgery and treatment once, instead of multiple times throughout your life.
Our restorations are stain and damage-resistant—made out of the highest quality porcelain or ceramic. The crown we restore your implant with may need to be replaced throughout your lifetime, but that switch is easy and often done in just two visits.
Receive Your Implants Today
If you want to learn more about implants and how they can help your oral health, contact Evolution Dental in Palm Desert, California. He is your guy for implants and cosmetic dentistry in the area, and can answer your questions about replacing a tooth!