If you’re missing teeth, you’re hardly alone. Some 178 million adults in the United States are missing at least one tooth, and about 40 million are missing all of their teeth. That may be little consolation, but there is a reason to smile: Dental Implants. Thanks to new technology and materials, today’s implants look, feel, and function just like natural teeth. They can also last a lifetime.
Edly Destine, DDS of 88 Smile Designs in Mt. Vernon, NY, has restored the smiles of countless patients with state-of-the-art dental implants. Dr. Destine offers the following overview on why dental implants are the gold standard for replacing missing teeth.
It’s about more than a Hollywood smile. Replacing missing teeth is about your health. When one or more teeth are missing, the adjacent teeth shift out of alignment and into the empty space. This misalignment can set off a chain reaction of dental problems. That can include cracked teeth, tooth decay, and deterioration of your jaw bone, all putting you at risk for further tooth loss.
Replacing missing teeth with dental implants keep your teeth in their proper position. They also enable you to chew and speak effectively.
Unlike removable options, such as dentures, dental implants become a permanent part of your mouth. A titanium anchor is screwed into your jawbone to replace the root of a missing tooth. Your jawbone grows around the new titanium root, and it becomes securely anchored in place.
This enables the implant to become strong and stable, like the original tooth root. With the support of an implant, your new tooth is durable and functions just like your natural teeth.
The gap left by a missing tooth also contributes to weakening bone in your jaw. Your jawbone needs stimulation from your natural tooth root to maintain a healthy bone density. If you lose a tooth but don’t replace it, over time you begin to lose jawbone, too.
Because custom dental implants replace the tooth and its root, they help preserve your jawbone from deterioration and maintain the overall healthy structure of your mouth.
A porcelain or ceramic crown is placed on top of each titanium post to complete the aesthetic aspect of your smile. The crown is color tinted and contoured to match your natural teeth, making it virtually impossible for anyone to notice the difference.
Unlike removable appliances, your new dental implants require only the same proper dental hygiene as the rest of your teeth. That means regular brushing, flossing, and bi-annual dental cleanings and checkups at 88 Smile Designs.
To learn more about dental implants and how they can help you, call 88 Smile Designs in Mt. Vernon, NY at 914-292-0153 or request an appointment using the convenient online booking tool.
