Dental Implants: Restore Your Smile

Dental implants can help patients who have teeth missing to have natural looking smiles. People who have lost teeth as the result of tooth decay, gum disease, or from other causes can have positive results from using these structures. The structures can assist people who otherwise would have needed to have dentures to replace missing teeth.

Dental implants can substitute the roots of the tooth. They provide a strong base to hold artificial teeth that are designed to match the person's natural teeth. The structures are created to meld into a person's jawbone, in most cases. Therefore, they are a permanent solution for people who have missing teeth. The replacements can look so natural that most people cannot tell that the person has replacement teeth. The teeth also begin to feel like the patient's natural teeth, so it is easier to become adjusted to the replacements.

Patients with missing teeth may have problems eating certain foods. The structures make it easier to eat without fear of having dentures slip. People who feel pain from eating certain foods or those who cannot chew properly due to missing teeth can benefit from the procedure.

People who receive the structures also feel better about their appearance. They have the confidence of knowing that they have improved smiles. It is also comforting for them to know that their smile is permanent and can last for the duration of their lives with proper oral hygiene. Not only can people who receive the surgery have an improved smile, but they can pronounce their words better, in some cases. Missing teeth can sometimes impact a person's ability to speak properly.

Often people who choose to have the procedure would rather have a permanent solution to tooth loss rather than having dentures, which must be removed. Although dentures are good options for some patients, other patients find that they are embarrassing to remove and difficult to clean. They feel that it is more convenient to have dental implants.

Although it is natural to be concerned or experience misgivings when thinking about undergoing surgery, dental implants have a high success rate. Complications are less likely if the patient is otherwise healthy and does not have any other issues that will make surgery difficult. A dentist will perform a full oral exam to make sure that the surgery is a feasible option. The dentist will also inform the patient of any risks associated to having the surgery. The dentist will want to make sure that the patient has healthy gums and bones for the structures to hold onto. Other medical issues, such as diabetes can pose risks for patients undergoing this surgery, so the dentist will advise these patients on whether or not the surgery is an option. Some dentists may suggest that patients who smoke a great deal do not have the surgery, but those cases are evaluated on an individual basis. Having the surgery performed by a skilled and experienced professional can also influence the results of the surgery and reduce the risks.