The hard and soft tissue in your mouth has a sort of symbiotic relationship with each another. Just as your teeth rely on healthy gums and bone in order to remain functionally healthy, the same rule applies to the jawbone, which relies on the presence of teeth in order to remain strong. So, generally speaking, teeth will start to fall out without the support of a strong jawbone, and without teeth to keep the bone healthy, the jawbone will further degenerate, potentially causing more teeth to be lost.
Dental implants are used to replace one or more missing teeth, whether the tooth/teeth were lost naturally due to periodontal disease, extracted due to decay or lost/damaged due to injury. The procedure can help restore a patient’s overall bone health in addition to increasing the functional use of the mouth and improving appearance due to the replacement of the missing teeth.
Overview of the Procedure
A dental implant is basically a small titanium screw-like rod that is implanted (hence the name) into the jawbone in the socket of the missing tooth, taking the place of the natural tooth’s root. Once the implant is assimilated into the bone and the tissue has healed, a small connector post is then placed on top of the titanium rod. A replacement tooth is then custom-made to the proper size, color and shape to simulate one of the patient’s natural teeth and is attached to the abutment post. The structure is not removable and offers a permanent and secure way to restore missing teeth.
There are quite a few advantages to permanent tooth replacement using dental implants, including the fact that your dental professional will not have to alter any of your remaining natural remaining teeth in order to place the implant. Additionally, implants help keep the jawbone healthy and strong, will help keep teeth from shifting and you don’t have to worry about a removable fixture falling out at an inopportune time.
Benefits of Dental Implants
- Increased Bone Health – When an individual is missing teeth, the bone that originally supported those teeth starts to break down and causes resorption into the body due to a lack of function. Adding an implanted replacement fosters osseointegration of the bone, a process in which the bone cells continue to generate and attach themselves directly to the titanium rod, forming a strong structurally-sound root for the replacement tooth to be placed upon.
- Prevents Shifting – When a patient is partially edentulous (missing teeth), the remaining teeth in the mouth tend to want to shift into the empty spaces left by the lost tooth. Since a dental implant is a permanent replacement treatment, there is no empty space left for the surrounding teeth to shift into.
- Sound Nutrition – Many wearers of dentures encounter fit issues and tend to avoid certain foods, or they remove the appliance(s) altogether while eating. Permanent tooth replacement via dental implants allows for increased comfort while eating and chewing, and therefore promotes a better intake and improved digestion of a more varied and nutritious diet.
For more information about dental implant procedures, contact Park Dental Care in Queens at 718-274-1515.
