Missing teeth are never pleasant. It is a trait both men and women avoid revealing to others. Even if it’s not openly noticeable, feeling a hole where a tooth should be can seem bizarre or embarrassing.
You are very aware of your tooth’s absence, and it can almost feel like going to work or school without pants on. As poignantly coined in the musical Annie, “You’re never fully dressed without a smile.”
Different Options for Treatment
Thankfully, a missing tooth is not a lost cause. There are options available to you for restoration and replacement.
Dentures
For hundreds of years, dentures were the only option available to restore a smile. Dentures are removable appliances meant to look like teeth and made to fit inside your mouth. The false teeth simply sit on top of the gum line. People often complain because they fall out at the wrong time, can pinch or hurt your gums, and allow your jawbone to shrink.
Dentures, however, are no longer your only choice.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are the gold standard for restoration of missing teeth due to trauma, decay, or disease. So how do dental implants differ from dentures?
Your dentist will insert a titanium post through your gums into your jawbone, replacing the root of your natural tooth. The post provides an anchor on which your new replacement tooth (implant) can attach securely.
Not only are they more sturdy and permanent, but patients are choosing dental implants over dentures because they simply look more natural.
A More Natural Look with Dental Implants
Dental implants have many benefits over dentures. These benefits make your replacement teeth look just like all of your natural teeth. No one – perhaps not even you – will be able to tell the difference. Some of the many advantages of dental implants are:
Stability
Your implant will not slip or move. It’s hard to disguise dentures if they accidentally slip out of your mouth during a conversation or job interview. This will not happen with an implant. Because implants are infused into the jaw bone, they will not move. Stability is also important for eating and speaking, and implants will ensure a pleasant experience with both.
Durability
Once inserted, dental implants are trusted to last at least 20 years without replacement. You can treat them as if they were any of your natural teeth, unlike dentures which need to be removed to be cleaned.
You can brush your dental implant and floss around it as part of your normal oral hygiene routine. Additional great news is that you’ll never need to worry about cavities on a fake tooth!
Customization
Dental implants are created especially for you. Guided by 3D technology, we design implants that will fit perfectly with your alignment and bite. Because implants are specially customized, they are very comfortable and blend perfectly with your natural teeth. You won’t need to worry about getting pinched by dentures and you won’t experience any pain or pressure from chewing, biting, or talking.
Health
Dental implants support a healthy bone structure. Once a tooth is missing, the bone that would normally support the root of the missing tooth may recede. Gaps in your mouth, left over a period of time, can cause your jawbone to shrink and can change the shape of your face, especially for those with multiple missing teeth.
Since dentures only sit on top of the jawline, they cannot prevent bone loss. An implant’s titanium post that is inserted into the jawbone, however, gives the jawbone something to hold onto and a reason to remain strong. Not only does a strong jaw promote healthy smiles, it looks more natural.
Are You Ready for Dental Implants?
By choosing implants, you are not only choosing a more natural look for your smile, but also a comfortable, strong, and durable option which ensures the overall health of your mouth and jawbone for your lifetime.
If you’re in the Bayside, New York area, come meet Dr. Gary Bram at Dental Expressions so you can discuss the many different options available to you to replace missing or damaged teeth.
At your appointment, Dr. Bram will explain the dental implant process so that you feel at ease and eager to take the next step toward restoring your smile.
Dr. Bram uses the latest computer-guided implant technology to ensure your dental needs receive the best care. And with hundreds of hours of continued education, you’ll know you’re in excellent hands with Dr. Bram at Dental Expressions.
So contact Dr. Bram at Dental Expressions today to book your first appointment.
