What is a dental implant?

If you’re an adult with a missing tooth, you might not realize how important it is to replace that missing tooth as soon as possible. Not only can tooth loss keep you from feeling like smiling, but the remaining teeth can start to drift into the spot vacated by the missing one. And because teeth are essential for jaw alignment, this can create bite alignment issues, not to mention jawbone loss. Dental implants, however, are an excellent choice because they are durable, permanent, and easy to maintain.

Dental implants are one of the best tooth replacement options available. Your dentist surgically places the implant into your jawbone, where it serves as a replacement tooth root. The hypoallergenic titanium post then fuses with your jawbone over time. This means that your implant will actually help preserve your jawbone density (unlike bridges and dentures), and they will never shift when eating or speaking like dentures can.

Who should get a dental implant?

Most patients are healthy enough to be candidates for dental implants. Patients must be in good oral health and visit their dentist regularly for professional dental cleanings and oral evaluations. Further, patients must have sufficient bone density in their jaw so that the implant will have the support it requires. 

As this study notes, smokers should stop smoking for at least a week before their implant surgery and should either quit smoking entirely or cease smoking for two months after surgery to reduce inflammation and overall risk of implant failure.

We highly recommend dental implants if you have one or more missing teeth and want a permanent, more durable solution than a bridge or denture can provide.

The Benefits of a Dental Implant

If you are thinking of a dental implant for your missing tooth, you can expect to experience the following benefits: 

• Improved appearance
• Improved speech 
• Natural feel
• Easier eating
• Improved self-esteem
• Easier-to-maintain oral health
• Permanent stability
• Long-term solution

But why is a dental implant so much better and more stable than other tooth replacement options? The answer lies in the overall concept of an implant. As we said earlier, your dentist or oral surgeon surgically implants the post into your jawbone. Like your natural tooth root, your bone will bond with the implant. This creates not only durability but stability too.

While dentures can be highly effective and are an excellent choice for many patients, the fact is that your dentures can slip over time. After you wear your dentures for about 18 months, your gum tissue and jawbone begin to shrink. This is the main reason that dentures become less effective. But a dental implant is a permanent solution due to the surgical implantation.

Caring for Your Dental Implant

One of the most significant benefits we hear from patients who have replaced their missing tooth with a dental implant is the ease of care. Caring for your dentures requires soaking, special brushes, and more. And, as we implied earlier, dentures don’t last forever and need to be replaced every seven to 10 years (possibly sooner if you are experiencing severe slippage).

Though cleaning around a dental bridge is less time-consuming than dentures, they still require tender loving care. In addition to brushing and flossing daily, you will need to clean underneath your bridge with a floss threader, dental pick, or interproximal brush to remove debris and food particles.

Conversely, caring for your dental implant is easy. Just brush and floss as you would your natural teeth. 

• Brush twice a day for two minutes at a time with a soft-bristled toothbrush, following the proper brushing technique.
• Floss at least once daily to loosen food particles.
• Rinse with a fluoridated mouthwash to rid your mouth of the particles loosened by brushing and flossing.

And be sure to keep up with your preventive dental appointments for a professional dental cleaning every six months. 

Need dental implants near Bedford, TX?

If you have one or more missing teeth that you are ready to replace, there is no time like the present to request an appointment with Davis Family Dental Care. See why more and more patients are choosing dental implants as their restorative dentistry solution. We look forward to meeting you and taking you through your tooth replacement options.