For those who have recently lost one or more teeth, it’s common to worry about the best way to preserve you smile. Losing teeth can be traumatic, personal, and it can even harm your self-image. If you’re hoping to preserve the beauty of your smile after losing teeth, one of the best treatments is dental implants, a tooth replacement option much like your natural teeth. Not only can they keep you speaking clearly, smiling confidently, and eating the foods your want, dental implants can also protect your smile from shifting and becoming crooked, or from losing bone mass in your jaw.
mature woman shows off her cute smile

How Do Dental Implants Work?

Comprised of two main elements — the titanium implant, and the ceramic crown — the secret to dental implants is a process known as osseointegration. After measurements are taken of a patient’s jaw, measuring the remaining bone mass, the titanium implant is surgically inserted and given time to heal. During this process, living bone and tissue begin forming a connection with the titanium implant that mimics that of an actual tooth root. Once this connection has been made, a custom-designed crown is crafted to match the exact shade of your surrounding teeth. Crafted out of medical-grade ceramic, your crown will be resistant to both stains and chips, ensuring your dental implant will remain functional for years to come.

How Do Dental Implants Preserve Your Smile?

Dental implants preserve your smile in two different ways. First, the can stimulate the jaw bone and preserve bone mass, and second, they stop teeth from shifting. Your jaw is continually sending signals to surrounding stem cells in order to replenish bone mass. This signals are received in the form of stimulation from the surrounding teeth. Once a tooth has been lost, this stimulation stops, and over time, bone mass can gradually deplete in the surrounding area, causing sunken-looking cheeks, and jeopardizing other teeth. Because dental implants work much like natural teeth, they can provide the needed stimulation to the jaw bone.

The same goes for shifting teeth. Once a hole has been created in the mouth as the result of a lost tooth, teeth will naturally try to shift toward the hole in order to fill the gap. The tooth above or below the missing tooth has also been known to grow towards the missing gap, as well.

Are You a Candidate for Dental Implants?

If you’re interested in replacing your missing teeth and preserving your smile, the next step would be scheduling a consultation with your local dentist. During this appointment, your dentist can go over your medical history, speak more in-depth about the treatment, and answer any questions you may have. Although the best way to determine whether dental implants are right for you is an appointment, having good oral health, and jawbone density are a good starting place.

Dental implants carry a 96 percent success rate, but the number one factor in dental implant failure is gum disease. If you presently have gum disease, your dentist will have to treat that first before a dental implant procedure can take place.

If you would like to learn whether you’re a candidate for dental implants in Wilmington, NC, please call (910) 392-6060 or email Kuzma Advanced Dentistry.