You shouldn’t ignore any concern with your smile’s health and wellbeing, but when it comes to tooth loss, hesitating to act could lead to a complex series of problems. For instance, a missing tooth not only affects your smile’s appearance, but it also changes how well your bite works and can impact the alignment of your remaining teeth. Without the root of the tooth in place, your jawbone can also suffer from a lack of stimulation when you bite and chew. The point of replacing your lost tooth as soon as possible is to reduce or eliminate your risks of such issues, and for patients at our Lafayette, LA, dental office, implants can often achieve that goal best.
A breakdown of dental implants
Dental implants consist of one or more small posts that are inserted into your jawbone, allowing them to replace your lost teeth roots. Each post is crafted from biocompatible titanium, which means once they’re inserted, your jawbone will begin fusing to their surfaces as it heals. This gives dental implants the unique ability to become permanent parts of your anatomy, and the distinct advantage of reestablishing stimulation in your jawbone. Depending on how many teeth you’ve lost, one or more implants can be used to support a custom-designed crown, bridge, or denture.
What they offer in the short-term
Once your jawbone heals around your dental implants, your dentist can attach abutments to each post and secure your custom-designed prosthesis to them. By contrast, traditional prostheses rely on supportive solutions such as abutment teeth or hidden clasps. By mimicking the roots of your lost teeth, dental implants provide a more lifelike support system for your replacement teeth, one that includes anchored roots instead of clasps or modified healthy teeth. The advanced support means your prosthesis will be significantly more comfortable and secure, and will never lose its grip or shift along your dental ridge.
Their significant long-term benefits
In addition to greater comfort in the short-term, dental implants provide several important benefits to your long-term oral health. The reestablished stimulation will help slow or stop the erosion of your jawbone that can occur following the loss of your teeth roots. Your jawbone will retain its healthy, strong structure and appearance, which reduces your risks of further tooth loss. With highly lifelike replacements for your lost teeth, your remaining teeth will be less likely to shift out of alignment or suffer from imbalances in your bite.
Enjoy an implant-supported prosthesis
Dental implants offer a more comprehensive solution to tooth loss than traditional prostheses (i.e., bridges and dentures) can offer. To learn more, schedule a consultation by calling the office of Michael J. Young, DDS, in Lafayette, LA, at 337-237-6453. We proudly serve patients who live in Breaux Bridge, Broussard, Scott, Youngsville, and all surrounding communities.