3 Dental-Implant Benefits Beyond Improving the Look of Your Mouth

Dentist Blog

A dental-implant restoration is virtually indistinguishable from a natural tooth. After the implant has healed in position, it is covered by a connector and a crown. If the crown is made of porcelain, the sheen and color are basically the same as that of natural tooth enamel. Still, if you are thinking of receiving a dental implant, you may be wondering if an implant procedure to improve the appearance of your mouth is worth the cost. Nevertheless, the placement of a dental implant affects more than your appearance. Here are a few other benefits of having a dental implant installed.

Proper Chewing Ability

A missing tooth can make it difficult to enjoy a wide variety of foods. Once a tooth is lost, its tearing or grinding ability is also gone. Since many hard foods that are difficult to chew are also healthy for you, you can become nutritionally deficient by eliminating all hard foods from your diet. The removal of raw fruits and vegetables, which generally have a hard, fibrous texture, can reduce the number of important vitamins and minerals that you ingest.

This can be particularly detrimental to your health if you have other conditions, such as diabetes, which may already incite dietary restrictions.

Jawbone Stimulation

The bone cells of your jaw are produced in response to stimulation received from the teeth. Most tooth-replacement applications, such as a dental bridge, are not installed beneath the gum line. As a result, unlike a natural tooth, these applications do not transfer bite pressure to the jawbone. Dental implants, on the other hand, are installed inside the jawbone. Consequently, when you bite or chew with a dental implant in place, the mechanism transfers the bite pressure to the bone for stimulation.

Future Appliance Stabilization

Dental implants may also be used to support other teeth-replacement appliances in the future. For instance, if you require a dental bridge in the future, a dental implant can be used as a bridge support, just as a natural tooth can. 

Dental bridges include bridge crowns on each end of the bridge. If a natural tooth is not available, a bridge crown can be affixed to a dental implant that was used to replace a previously lost tooth. Implants can also be used to stabilize implant-supported dentures.

To learn more about dental implants and their benefits, schedule an appointment with a professional in your local area, such as one from Oral Surgery Associates Inc.

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31 August 2016

Maximizing Your Smile Power

As a busy professional, my public appearance is very important to me. Networking with potential clients and business contacts is as much about the image you present as it is about what you do and what you know. I take care to look my best every day by taking special care with my hair, makeup, and clothes. But for a long time, I was embarrassed about my smile, and restricted myself to tight, closed mouth smiles to hide my yellowed, crooked teeth. Then I discovered what cosmetic dentistry could do for me. With the help of a great cosmetic dentist, I decided to have tooth whitening treatments and use corrective tooth straightening equipment. Now I have no problem flashing a big, white smile everywhere I go. You can do the same thing! Find out how cosmetic dentistry can maximize your smile power and improve your life.