If you ever lose any teeth, you may be faced with the choice of getting a dental bridge, dentures, or dental implants. All are forms of tooth replacement. But the solution with the most long-term benefits is by far the dental implant.
In this article, we’ll go over why that is (if you live in Phoenix, check out dental implants Phoenix to learn more).
1. Dental Implants Are the Next Closest Thing to Natural Teeth
Dental implants attach to your jawbone via medical-grade titanium. After the initial installation (which requires a licensed dentist who has the proper dental equipment), they solidify to your jawbone over a period of a few months.
Once this process is complete, your dental implants will feel completely natural, and it will be hard (if not impossible) to tell them apart from your natural teeth.
2. They Restore the Natural Functions of Lost Teeth
When you’re missing teeth, it’s hard to eat right. You need a full set of teeth to bite, chew, and break down food.
But with dental implants, you can eat just like normal. They eliminate any hindrances caused by missing teeth so you can eat all of your favorite foods again.
3. They Help Prevent Bone Loss
Vacant tooth space can cause your jawbone to deteriorate from lack of stimulation. This is an irreversible and painful development.
Dental implants can stop the bone decay process by fusing to your jawbone, thus stabilizing it and restoring the needed stimulation.
4. They Help Prevent Your Face From Sagging
Few people enjoy aging. Vacant tooth space can accelerate the process by leading to a sagging face, including wrinkles, thinning lips, and an older-looking face overall.
With dental implants, you can slow this process by maintaining a full set of teeth.
5. They Can Help Prevent Tooth Misalignment
Gaps in your jawbone can cause your teeth to misalign. This can lead to more bacteria setting in, speaking problems, and bad tooth pressure.
Dental implants help keep your teeth straight to prevent misalignment and all of the negative side effects associated with it.
6. They Improve Your Smile
Having a gap in you teeth makes you more self-conscious and less confident. But with dental implants, you can have a full set of teeth again.
This can give you a great smile that will boost your confidence in social settings and help you leave a lasting positive impression on others.
7. They Are Easy to Care for
Some tooth replacement solutions (like dentures and dental bridges) require special cleaning materials to maintain (like creams and adhesives or soaking them in water overnight).
Not so with dental implants. You can clean them just like you would your natural teeth with toothpaste, floss, and mouthwash. In other words, maintaining them is hassle-free.
8. They Last a Long Time
Lastly, dental implants last a long time. Because they are connected directly to the jaw bone, they are a permanent solution to tooth loss.
Other tooth replacements like dentures and bridgework may need to be replaced or remade over time from getting loose or breaking. On average, dental bridges only last up to 10 years, while dentures last only 5 to 7 years.
Dental implants can last a lifetime, which means they have the best long-term value.
Final thought
Ultimately, the choice of whether or not to get dental implants is up to you. There are other options out there, but none provide a more permanent or unnoticeable solution as dental implants. Do your research and then choose what’s right for you.