When you lose one or more teeth, their loss can become one of the biggest factors in the state of your oral health. The best way to control the potential effects to the rest of your smile is to replace the lost teeth, and in many cases, dental implants offer the most comprehensive solution for doing so. At our Lafayette, LA, dental office, we often recommend dental implants to help patients regain the good oral health, bite function, and confidence in their smiles that they deserve.
Are they your best option?
What makes dental implants different from other, more conventional prostheses is the fact that they consist of prosthetic roots. While traditional bridges and dentures rely on abutment teeth, clasps, and adhesives for support, those supported by one or more dental implants are anchored in place by the root-like posts. This creates a more stable and lifelike prosthesis that’s often ideal for most types of tooth loss patients. However, because the implant posts must be placed within your jawbone, we’ll perform a comprehensive examination and consultation to ensure that they’re your best option.
Do you have gum disease?
One of the biggest influences to your dental implant candidacy is the state of your oral health. For many people, tooth loss is caused by the progression of gum disease, which erodes the periodontal tissues and jawbone structure that support that your teeth. If you’ve lost teeth to gum disease, then we’ll ensure that the disease is addressed and brought under control, and that any damage is corrected, before planning your tooth replacement. Otherwise, the erosion will continue and can compromise the success of your dental implants, as well as increase your risks of losing more teeth.
How long ago did you lose teeth?
Gum disease is a common cause of jawbone erosion, which contributes significantly to tooth loss. However, the loss of your teeth can also impact the erosion of your jawbone. Without their roots, your jawbone doesn’t experience as much stimulation, resulting in a diminished supply of nutrients that results in a loss of jawbone mass and density. If it’s been several years or longer since you’ve lost teeth, then we’ll thoroughly examine the strength and integrity of your jawbone before suggesting placing dental implants in it.
Find out if you need dental implants
Receiving one or more dental implants can be the best thing for your smile, but to ensure their success, we’ll ensure that implants are your best option first. To learn more, or to schedule a consultation, call 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.