Teeth don’t always get the credit they deserve for everything they do for their owner. They serve functions in speaking, eating, and socializing, and losing many of them can lead to a variety of health issues. Tooth loss can make it difficult to chew the wide variety of foods the body needs to stay healthy, and forgoing getting enough of a necessary nutrient over time can have severe health consequences later on. Here’s how replacing your missing teeth with dental implants can help you live longer.
Dental Implants Can Prevent Further Tooth Loss
Like the rest of the body, the jawbone requires exercise in order to remain healthy and strong. This stress normally comes from the teeth as they work against the jawbone during chewing. After tooth loss, this exercise is lost, and the part of the jawbone beneath the lost tooth will soon begin to atrophy and recede. As the jawbone sinks away, it can pull neighboring teeth out of alignment, which can make them harder to clean and easier to injure. This can lead to further tooth loss and the cycle beginning over again.
Dental implants can prevent or reverse the recession of the jawbone after tooth loss. They are placed directly into the jawbone, allowing them to stimulate it in the same way as real teeth.
Dental Implants Can Protect You from Gum Disease
Traditional dental restorations like dentures and bridges can make it difficult to properly perform oral hygiene. It is crucial to clean underneath dentures or bridges because food particles and bacteria can be sheltered there. This can lead to gum disease like gingivitis and periodontitis, which can cause discomfort, tooth loss, and dangerous secondary infections like sepsis or pneumonia. Gum disease has also been linked to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, infertility, and pregnancy complications.
If you have dental implants instead of dentures or bridges, you don’t have to worry about cleaning underneath them because they are attached to your jaw beneath the gumline. In fact, dental implants don’t require any special hygiene considerations beyond what is necessary for natural teeth.
In addition to physical health concerns, missing teeth and dealing with traditional dental restorations can take their toll on your self-confidence and your willingness to smile liberally. Dental implants look and function just like real teeth, allowing the patient to smile naturally without worrying about their restorations being noticed.
About the Author
Dr. Khushboo Gandhi earned her dental degree at the Oklahoma College of Dentistry and takes continuing education classes at Baylor College of Dentistry. She is a proud member of the American Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry, and the Texas Dental Association. Her office in Murphy, TX offers general, pediatric, cosmetic, restorative, and emergency dentistry in addition to dental implants. For more information on what dental implants can do for you, contact the office online or dial (972) 532-6506.