Have you lost teeth or have damaged teeth due to tooth decay or gum disease? Maybe you even had an accident or injury that cost you a tooth? Dental implants can be the ideal choice for tooth replacement for adults of all ages, no matter how you lost or damaged your teeth. Implants can also be a viable smile restoration option for adolescents, once facial growth and development have completed — generally around age 16 for girls, and age 18 for boys.
4 Reasons to Get Dental Implants
Dental implants offer many advantages over other tooth replacement alternatives such as dentures and bridges. Here are four that Dr. Albert Caves of Caves Family & Cosmetic Dentistry in Columbus, GA wants to make you aware of.
1. Dental Implants Function Like Natural Teeth
Dental implants feel, look, fit and function as if they were healthy, natural teeth. Once the implant site has fully healed, you may even forget they’re not your natural teeth. You’ll brush and floss them just like you do the rest of your teeth with no need to remove them for cleaning or maintenance as with dentures. They also help you retain your natural face shape and smile.
2. Dental Implants Last A Lifetime
Dental implants are made to last. Implants that are conscientiously cared for can last many decades. Many other tooth replacement options such as dental bridges and dentures, may require replacing as often as every 5 to 10 years to remain functional. This means that, although implants will cost you more money up front, you will not need to pay to replace them as often as those other options and you’ll spend less time in the dentist’s chair.
3. Implants Are Secure In Your Mouth
Your dental implants will be surgically embedded in your jaw bone tissue, so there is no risk of them slipping or clicking while you are talking or eating as can happen with dentures can. You’ll also find that your speech sounds more natural with dental implants. Dental implants will allow you to smile, talk, laugh and eat with confidence.
4. Implants Help Preserve and Protect Your Jawbone
Implants protect the health of facial bone tissue and teeth. Allowing empty spaces to remain in your mouth after losing one or more teeth can allow bone tissue to erode faster, possibly leading to drifting teeth, uneven bites and even TMJ issues. Dental implants are the only tooth replacement option that stimulates the growth of new healthy bone tissue while also preventing further bone loss. Having dental implants placed as soon as possible after losing a tooth helps prevent bone loss at the site and the need for uncomfortable and expensive bone graft surgeries which might be needed to place an implant a few years later. Another advantage of implants is that they do not require that the enamel on the adjacent teeth be ground down for bridges to be anchored or partial dentures to be attached.
Dental Implants in Columbus, GA
If you have lost teeth for any reason and are interested in investigating what dental implants can to help restore your smile, Dr. Caves and his team at Caves Family & Cosmetic Dentistry in Columbus, GA are ready to help. Please call us at (706) 407-4851 or schedule a consultation online today!