Why Dental Implants are a Game-Changer in Replacing Missing Teeth

If you’re missing teeth, you are far from alone. About 178 million Americans are in the same situation — missing at least one tooth. What’s more, 40 million have no teeth at all. The decision to close the gap raises questions:

• Is it necessary? 
• Is it just an act of vanity? 
• What’s the best treatment? 

The answers to those questions are: yes, no, and dental implants.

Mark Kramer, DDS, Tustin, CA, uses the latest technology in her state-of-the-art facility to bring you the safest most effective dental care. When it comes to dental implants, she has the answers to all your questions and is ready to start treatment whenever you are.

Meanwhile, here’s a look at why there’s no better choice for replacing missing teeth than dental implants.

What happens when you lose a tooth?

A lost tooth is more than a matter of aesthetics. Each tooth has roots that go deep into your jawbone, making them strong and stable. Every time you bite down or chew, the bone tissue in your jaw responds by renewing cells and nourishing nerves to support areas where it registers activity.

Because your jawbone relies on that action to thrive, that means that a lost tooth makes a difference in your bone health. If your jaw no longer receives the signal that the area is active, it stops the tissue renewal process. Eventually, the bone deteriorates because of the lack of stimulation, and this bone loss can affect your surrounding teeth, causing them to shift.

Additionally, tooth loss triggers other concerns. Your existing teeth are in danger of losing gum and bone support, which means you may lose more teeth. 

Implanting new roots 

Of your options for replacing your lost teeth, dental implants are your best choice, because this is the only way to create a new root in your jawbone. Dental implants include a titanium post that is inserted into your jawbone. Once in place, your body takes over and fuses the implant into place by growing bone tissue up and around the post. Other prosthetic options don’t recreate a root in your jawbone, which means you can still incur bone loss even though you’ve solved the problem above your gum line.

After that, we simply place a crown over the implant, which fits in seamlessly with your existing teeth. 

Stable

In addition to protecting you against further bone loss, dental implants also provide superior stability over other prosthetic choices. For instance, dentures rely on neighboring teeth, not on your strong jawbone, so you can expect some shifting and slippage when you chew and talk. On the contrary, a dental implant is more like the other teeth in your mouth, firmly anchored in your jawbone, enabling you to chew and speak with ease.

To learn more about dental implants and how they can help you look, eat, and feel better, give us a call or use our convenient online booking tool to set up an appointment.