How Dental Implants Can Improve Your Oral Health

Tooth loss can affect your ability to enjoy the benefits of a healthy diet, as chewing many foods becomes far more difficult. Sadly, people losing teeth is all too common, with dental conditions affecting children and adults alike, but the number of teeth lost increases as you get older. Adults aged 20-64 are likely to lose around seven teeth; adults over 65 have 8 teeth or less in just over 25% of cases, and 17% have lost all of them.

There are many choices for people who have lost several teeth and have problems eating properly, but dental implants are a long-term safe and effective solution that acts like natural teeth. To understand how dental implants can improve your dental health, let’s look at the common reasons for losing teeth, how implants help, and what to expect from the procedure.

Residents of the Queen Creek, Arizona area looking for dental implants or other appliances to replace missing teeth can find help with Drs. Brian and Tanner Goodman and the experienced team at Goodman Dental Center.

Common reasons for tooth loss

Here are some reasons people often lose teeth:

Periodontitis: the technical term for gum disease, caused by bacteria and other particles creating an infection in your gums, damaging your teeth over time

Dental caries: also known as cavities, poor dental care can lead to bacteria and food particles creating holes in your teeth and causing tooth loss if left untreated

Injury: accidents that affect your mouth can cause tooth injuries that lead to cracked, broken, or knocked-out teeth

Bruxism: commonly called tooth grinding, this can happen when you’re stressed or nervous while you’re awake, or whenever you’re sleeping

Other causes of tooth loss include diabetes, smoking, rheumatoid arthritis, and hypertension. 

How dental implants help

Implants are a form of prosthetic tooth replacement stronger than other methods like dental bridges or dentures. The process involves replacing the tooth root with a metal post that fixes an implant in place and allows it to function like a natural tooth. 

This prosthetic is composed of three parts: the post, the abutment, and the crown. The post, as mentioned, is fixed into the tooth root which bonds to the jaw, and the abutment is attached to the post. Once done, it is fitted with a crown designed to look like your other teeth. The result is a replacement tooth that is stronger than other dental appliances and can last for many years.

How the procedure works

The process is fairly simple as described, but the key is allowing time for healing between each stage of the process. 

To start, any damaged material in the tooth needing replacement is removed, and if necessary bone grafting (using bone or similar material to replace depleted bone in your jaw) is performed, for jaws that lack the structure to support the implant. Once that is done and healed, the implant post is placed in and undergoes osseointegration, where the post fuses to the jawbone. 

Once that’s healed (the process can take several months), the abutment is attached to the post, though in some cases the abutment may be attached to the post initially. If done separately, your gums have to heal for a couple of weeks at least before the crown is placed. Impressions are made for the replacement crown, which is finally placed when the jaw is deemed strong enough to support its use.

Dental implants can be fixed or removable, meaning either set permanently to work like your other teeth or designed to be removed from the mouth (often if you’re getting implant-supported dentures). 

Despite not being a real tooth, implants will still need proper care, so be sure to practice normal dental hygiene, avoid foods that can cause damage to your implants or your normal teeth (hard candies, chewing ice, and tobacco products), and have your teeth checked regularly. 

Implants offer you prosthetics that give you the ability to eat normally again, and can be cared for just like your natural teeth. It also eliminates the risks of cavities, but damage to the gums is still possible, so dental care is still necessary. If you’re ready to get a dental implant, make an appointment with the Drs. Goodman at Goodman Dental Center today.