Dental Implants Brighten Your Smile

It’s no secret; while the eyes may be the windows to the soul, nothing brightens up the face and draws people in like a bright, healthy smile. Yet, for many people, a white, attractive smile can be one of the most difficult features to maintain, especially as time and age begin to take their toll on the appearance of the teeth. Inevitably, even those individuals that have healthy, well-cared for teeth and gums may begin to feel dissatisfied with the appearance of their smile over time. When this begins to become an issue, as it does for many, a visit to an experienced cosmetic dentist can make a world of difference. Subtle cosmetic changes like tooth whitening, bonding, veneers, and implants can literally take a decade from a person’s age, since a brighter smile makes a person look naturally younger and more vibrant.

Missing teeth can be one of the more debilitating dental problems a patient may face, affecting a person’s self-confidence, ability to eat and drink without concern and worry, and impeding a general sense of enjoying life. Teeth may have to be removed due to injury, poor dental care, accident, or illness. This affects not just the look of a patient’s smile, but of his entire face. Missing teeth often cause the area around the mouth to look more sunken in, tired, and lines and wrinkles commonly begin to develop as a result of muscles that work differently in reaction to the missing teeth. Solutions such as bridges, crowns, and dentures are popular, but are high-maintenance and may be impractical, particularly for younger, more active patients.

Dental implants are a wonderful alternative to dentures and bridges, creating a permanent solution for missing teeth that can be treated in the same way as a client’s natural teeth. The procedure is a relatively simple one, an implant is nothing more than a prosthetic tooth attached to the jaw via a sturdy screw. Over time, usually a period of about six to eight months, the bone in the jaw fuses to the screw, creating a permanent fixture. Once set, implants look, feel, and should be cared for in the same way as natural teeth. Since it takes some time for the implants to set and fuse with the jawbone, temporary dentures are created for patients until the permanent prosthetics are ready to be attached. Especially in younger people, this procedure can save a lifetime of dealing with denture-related problems, issues which often affect self-confidence.