Losing your natural teeth leaves behind embarrassing gaps in your smile, but this could also erode your youthful facial features and cause an aged appearance! Fortunately, we can help preserve your smile with the placement of dental implants. In today’s blog, your Grand Prairie, TX, dentist talks about preserving your smile with dental implants.
The Impact of Losing Natural Teeth
We could lose teeth due to factors like tooth decay, infection, injury, and of course, the advanced stage of gum disease, known as periodontitis. When you develop gaps due to tooth loss, this can cause nearby teeth to shift, creating misalignment and with it, poorer oral health. The pressure on your jaw joints from tooth loss is also linked to the onset of TMJ disorder and bruxism, both of which can cause further discomfort.
But the most severe complication of tooth loss, even greater than limited meal options and difficulty with clear speech, is the loss of mass and density in the jaw. The body will stop sending doses of calcium and phosphorus to the jaw around the missing roots. Without them, the jaw weakens and erodes, which can lead to further tooth loss and an older appearance! But we can help keep your smile intact with dental implants.
Securing New Dental Implants
The dental implant is a small post that looks like a tiny screw. Made from biocompatible titanium, this will bond with the bone structure and be accepted by the body as a natural root, so once we insert this surgically into the jaw, the body resumes the flow of nutrients to keep your jaw and facial features intact. Our team will plan the placement in detail, using digital imaging and x-rays to choose the angle, positions, and depth to insert the new post. We then attach an abutment to it and continue the process of securing your new tooth.
Completing Your New Tooth (or Your Entire Smile!)
For some, there may be time between the placement of the post and the attachment of restorations to complete the visible portion of your new tooth, while for others we may be able to complete the entire process in one visit. In addition to addressing an individual missing tooth, we could use four posts in your jaw to support a full set of new teeth. This is an alternative to removable dentures, and one that can last for decades to come and act like natural teeth, no need to remove them for maintenance and no worries about them slipping!
If you have any questions about how our team can take on minor or advanced tooth loss with implant dentistry, or if you have a gap that needs attention or even a case of complete tooth loss, then contact our team today to talk about your options. We want to help you smile with confidence again!
Learn More About Receiving Dental Implants
A full smile is possible with the placement of one or more of our lifelike and long-lasting dental implants. When you are ready to schedule your next appointment with our office, contact Pecan Tree Dental in Grand Prairie, TX at 972-262-5111.
