Have you recently lost one or several teeth? If so, it’s time to schedule an appointment with our Grand Rapids, MI, dental implant dentist. From there, Dr. Nichols will be able to help you explore your options and determine if you’re a candidate for dental implants.
Here’s what you need to know about dental implant treatment and how it can improve your overall health.
A single-tooth dental implant is a prosthetic tooth root that’s placed in the jawbone so it can later support an abutment and crown. Together, the implant, abutment, and crown give you the full function and appearance of a natural tooth. Unlike removable solutions like dentures, replacing a missing tooth with an implant is permanent and can last the rest of your life with proper care.
Your teeth are supported by the adjacent teeth, gums, and jawbone tissue. This means that once you lose one tooth, your risk increases for future tooth loss.
The dental implant procedure gives you the full function and appearance of a natural tooth. Not only does this fill the gap in your smile but it also helps to support adjacent teeth. Your single-tooth implant will also help prevent bone loss in the jaw. If you don’t pursue the process of replacing a tooth with a dental implant or anything similar, the other teeth will start to drift toward the empty space. Eventually, they may loosen and fall out.
As soon as you lose a tooth, your body will start to absorb the minerals in your jaw to use elsewhere. If left untreated, you’ll lose significant bone density in the area of the jaw where your tooth used to be.
Unlike dentures that sit on top of your gums, the titanium post of a dental implant is embedded directly into the jawbone. Thanks to this, the implant is able to exert pressure on the jawbone and provide stimulation much like a natural tooth root would. In other words, dental implant placement prevents bone loss in the jaw by keeping the area “happy” and stimulated so you can maintain a healthy smile for life.
If left untreated, bone loss in your jaw can lead to a condition called facial collapse. This means that there isn’t enough bone density to maintain facial shape. Patients experiencing facial collapse may notice that their features appear more sunken and they look older than they really are.
Once you lose significant bone density, existing dentures may feel more uncomfortable. This is because the jawbone and gums both work together to support your dentures. Dental implant surgery prevents this reality by stimulating the jawbone itself and signaling to the body that the area is occupied. The presence of the implant keeps the bone from shrinking and resorption (breakdown of bone tissue) from happening.
It’s difficult to eat the foods you love after tooth loss. In fact, it’s not uncommon for patients who experience tooth loss to eat foods that are soft and easy to chew. The only problem is that this makes it difficult to maintain a healthy, balanced diet. That’s why we recommend dental implants and other tooth replacement options.
Unlike dentures, a tooth implant is embedded in the jawbone. This gives you security and peace of mind while you eat your favorite foods, like steak.
Even the best-fitting dentures will slip on occasion when you eat, cough, or sneeze. But this can be easily corrected by gently biting down and swallowing to shift the dentures back in place.
One of the main is that you never have to worry about them slipping while you eat. Instead, you can eat with confidence.
Have you been hiding your smile or covering your mouth while you laugh? Over time, having missing teeth can chip away at your self-esteem and make you feel self-conscious about your appearance. This loss of confidence may also affect the first impression you give other people.
The good news is that dental implant treatment can help restore your smile, confidence, and self-esteem. This form of permanent tooth replacement looks and feels natural, giving you the smile of your dreams.
Wondering if you’re a candidate for dental implants? Dr. Michael Nichols is proud to serve as your local dental implant dentist in Grand Rapids, MI. To schedule an appointment, please call Nichols Family Dentistry at (616) 333-8496. You may also fill out our online contact form and someone from our team will reach out to you soon.
This blog post has been updated.
