Dental implants can be crucial to saving your smile. Not only can missing a tooth harm your self-image, prompting you to feel the need to mask your smile, but it can also cause extensive damage to your jaw and face. Moreover, lacking a tooth can end up depriving your body of the nutrients it needs to thrive. When considering these outcomes, it becomes clear that any gaps within your smile need to be addressed — effectively and promptly. Having dental implants placed is one of the best ways to replace missing teeth, and it provides a permanent fix to this issue. In today’s blog, your Prairie Village, KS, prosthodontist talks about dental implants and the benefits they provide.
What Are They And How Do They Work?
Dental implants are titanium posts that are surgically inserted into your gumline. Over about six weeks these posts fuse to your jawbone via a process known as osseointegration. Because implants go into your gums, they mimic your natural tooth roots, stimulating your jaw in the same way that your existing teeth do. Once they are fully secured and attached to your jawbone, Dr. Stuart Dexter can attach a prosthetic, like dentures or a bridge, so you can have the same functionality you would with a full set of natural teeth. All of the prosthetics we provide are made from life-like porcelain that is color-matched to look just like the rest of your smile. This ensures they will blend in seamlessly with the rest of your smile, appearing indistinguishable within your mouth.
How Implants Can Help
One of the biggest benefits of dental implants is their permanence. Once you have them inserted and they have fused, you will not have to worry about them moving or shifting in any way. Additionally, as you have them in your mouth for a while, you likely won’t even notice that they are even there; having one less thing on your plate is always beneficial. As stated above, implants can also help maintain the health of your jawbone. When you are down a tooth, or several, your jaw isn’t sufficiently stimulated, which can lead to it losing important bone density. When this happens, you could require more serious intrusive, extensive procedures like ridge augmentation and a sinus lift to fix the inflicted damage. It can also cause your face to sink inwards, creating even more problems. However, if you receive implants promptly after losing teeth, you can enjoy a healthy jaw and smile for years to come.
Schedule An Appointment To Learn More About Dental Implants
If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Stuart Dexter, Prosthodontist in Prairie Village, KS by calling 913-362-8200 to schedule an appointment for dental implants. We look forward to hearing from you.