Despite our modern dental technology and availability of oral at-home care products, tooth loss remains a serious problem in the U.S. 120 million Americans are missing at least one tooth.
If you’re one of them, you may want to consider receiving a dental implant —or an artificial tooth—to replace the missing natural one. There are many benefits to having a dental implant placed. Here are five reasons why the procedure could be right for you.
1. It Prevents Shifting
When you lose a tooth, the remaining teeth can shift and lean over because they are missing that additional support. This can make chewing difficult and lead to dental problems and bone loss as the years go by. If you take to chewing on one side of your mouth as a result, your smile can become irregular as your facial muscles weaken.
A dental implant keeps the remaining teeth straight and in their place, and helps your smile stay symmetrical.
2. It Restores Your Confidence
A missing tooth, especially if it’s visible when you smile, can be a real hit to your self-esteem and make you feel embarrassed or even ashamed.
A dental implant can restore your confidence as it looks, feels, and functions like a natural tooth. It will be shaded to match the rest of your teeth, so no one will know it’s an artificial tooth when you flash your pearly whites. You will feel ready to take on—and smile at—the world after receiving an implant to eliminate the gap in your mouth.
3. It’s Painless
Although the idea of having an artificial tooth implanted sounds scary, the truth is dental implant surgery is no more uncomfortable than receiving a filling. Your dentist or oral surgeon will give you local anesthesia to numb the area. In many cases, the post—or the part that mimics the tooth’s roots—can be placed in about one hour.
For the next several months the jawbone builds up around the post. You’ll then be fitted for the crown part of the implant, which is the top of the tooth visible above the gum line.
The entire process usually takes between three and five months and the wait is totally worth it to have a tooth that functions like a real one. It also eliminates the need to have work done on surrounding teeth, which is common with dental bridges.
4. Dental Implants Function Like Natural Teeth
You’ll never know that you have anything other than natural teeth in your mouth when you receive a dental implant. The tooth will feel and function like your natural teeth. You can chew, smile, and laugh to your heart’s content.
And although they may look like natural teeth, dental implants can’t get cavities and will never need a root canal!
5. It’s Long Lasting
With proper care, a dental implant can last several decades and possibly for a lifetime. You can maximize your chances of keeping one long-term by flossing and brushing around the implant every day, eating a well-balanced diet, and not smoking.
Interested in Receiving an Artificial Tooth?
Dental implants are revolutionizing the way missing teeth are being replaced. They are also one of our specialties here at Arrow Smile Dental. If you’re missing one or more teeth and are interested in learning if you’re a good candidate for an artificial tooth, schedule an appointment with us online.