Tooth loss happens so frequently, you might confuse it as being a natural part of aging. If you expect it, then it might not be so shocking if it happens to you. However, teeth serve a vital purpose by preparing your food for digestion, as well as upholding the structures surrounding your mouth. With the right care and maintenance, your teeth could and should last a lifetime. If they don’t, then replacing them is the next best, and most important, thing you can do to protect the rest of your smile. Like your healthy, natural teeth, the longevity of your dental prosthetic will depend largely on the integrity of its support system, which has been vastly improved with the advent of dental implants.
Dental Implants vs. Dental Bridges
Dental implants are small, prosthetic root devices made from biocompatible titanium, and help preserve your healthy oral structures in several ways. For instance, dental bridges, which traditionally replace a single lost tooth or several in a row, consist of dental crowns on either side that the bridge relies on for support. The crowns are attached to the remaining teeth that border the gap, and have to be modified to accommodate the crowns and bridge. By contrast, a dental implant can be surgically inserted into your jawbone, then topped with a crown (single tooth) or bridge (several teeth) without having to modify the teeth around it.
Dental Implants vs. Dentures
If you or someone you know has worn dentures for a while, then you may be familiar with the term, “denture slippage.” It describes the phenomenon of once-secured dentures eventually losing their grip and becoming loose, slipping along the dental ridge as you bite, chew, speak, and smile. Initially, dentures are custom-designed to fit along your dental ridge, and are held secure with durable dental adhesives. Over time, however, the loss of your teeth’s roots can lead to jawbone resorption, causing your jawbone and dental ridges to shrink (facial collapse). Securing your dentures on a series of implants stops them from slipping in two ways; implants provide root-like anchors within your jawbone, and they help stem jawbone resorption by replacing your lost teeth’s roots.
About Dental Impressions:
If you’ve lost one or more teeth and would like to learn more about dental implants, or to learn how they can improve your current dental prosthetic, schedule an appointment with your Ankeny, IA dentist today. You can reach Dental Impressions by calling (515) 965-0230. Since 2006, Dr. Amanda Foust has proudly treated families in Ankeny, Alleman, Elkhart, Bondurant, and all surrounding communities.
