Losing a tooth or two can be disastrous to your smile. Luckily, you do not have to wear dentures or use dental bridges which carry the risk of falling off all the time. Dental implants are artificial roots which are secured not just to your gum tissues but all the way to the underlying jawbones. These artificial roots are then connected to rods which hold the crown prosthesis. But what are the advantages of getting implants as opposed to the traditional means of teeth replacement?
1. Prevent bone tissue destruction.
The contact between the roots of your teeth and the underlying bone tissues is what keeps your jawbones from atrophying and becoming destroyed over time. But when you lose a tooth, the dental root is also lost. This means that the bone tissue underneath the tooth also loses its source of stimulation. Over time, the bone tissue will shrink and become destroyed. Aesthetically speaking, the loss of bone tissue leads to a sagging face because of the lack of structural support. The dental implant artificially stimulates the bone tissue to prevent atrophy.
2. Better function.
The reason why patients with dentures and dental bridges are not able to eat or speak securely is because they always run the risk of their restorations falling off. For this reason, while patients with dentures or bridges might look like they have a full set of teeth, they are still rather insecure. On the other hand, dental implants are securely attached to the patient’s jawbone. On top of that, the implant actually fuses with the jawbone over time due to the process of osseointegration. The fusion provides an added level of stability. Dental implants are made with pure titanium or titanium alloy since it’s only this metal which is capable of osseointegration. In fact, dental implants can last a lifetime with proper care and maintenance.
3. Less meticulous to maintain.
Dentures have to be cleaned before they are used, and they have to be removed and submerged in water when the patient goes to bed. Dental bridges require another set of cleaning instructions. Most patients are not able to keep up with such intricate cleaning instructions, and it’s no wonder why some patients develop poor dental hygiene when they get these restorations. However, dental implants do not require any special form of care and maintenance other than the regular brushing, flossing and rinsing with mouthwash.
Central Dental is a leader in dental implants. With three convenient locations in Little Rock, Conway, and Jacksonville, AR, your perfect smile is not too far away.
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