Did you know that dental implants are good for your oral health? Dental implants are artificial tooth roots used to replace severely decayed or damaged teeth, as well as teeth that are missing altogether. While dental implants have become increasingly popular due to their aesthetics and ability to restore the greatest amount of natural function, their benefits to oral health are often underrated. Here are some of the many reasons why dental implants are good for your oral health:
Eliminate Problematic Teeth
Teeth that are severely decayed can cause a number of problems. For starters, they often cause major tooth pain that can interfere with eating and other everyday activities. Not only that, but decay can spread from one tooth to another or can even infect the jawbone if not treated. In some cases, a root canal may be performed in order to remove the decay and save the natural tooth. However in severe cases, it may be best to have the tooth extracted and replaced with a dental implant. This is also the case for teeth that have been severely damaged beyond repair. Although your dentist will always try to preserve your natural teeth, there are cases where the best option is to remove the problematic tooth before it gets worse.
When these problematic teeth are extracted, they can be replaced with dental implants. Since dental implants are artificial tooth roots, they will function similarly to your natural teeth, but will be free from damage or decay. Dental implants themselves cannot be affected by tooth decay, however the gum tissue surrounding them is still susceptible to gum disease or infection caused by bacteria.
Fill in Spaces Left by Missing Teeth
Gaps left by missing teeth can cause a number of oral health problems. Besides the fact that gaps are not aesthetic, gaps left by missing teeth can allow the surrounding teeth to shift in position to fill the gap over time. The opposing teeth have also been known to grow longer since there is no opposing force preventing overgrowth. When these things happen, they increase the risk that your remaining teeth will become damaged or prematurely worn since they no longer line up properly. Not only that, but when your bite alignment changes it can cause problems with your jaw joint, especially if the joint is under more pressure than before. To prevent these complications associated with missing teeth, your dentist will likely recommend using dental implants to replace a missing tooth. Filling in the gap with a dental implant ensures that your teeth will stay in their correct position and that your bite will not be severely impacted.
Preserves the Jawbone
Even though there are other types of dental restorations that can be used to restore decayed, damaged, or missing teeth, dental implants are the only restoration that can restore the tooth AND preserve your jawbone. This is because the implant functions as an artificial tooth root that provides the jawbone with the necessary stimulation to maintain its bone mass. Without this stimulation to the jawbone, the body will slowly begin to absorb bone mass from the jaw and distribute it elsewhere in the body. This process, known as bone resorption, occurs after a tooth is lost and the jawbone underneath is no longer absorbing the force of chewing. Without that constant force, the body will move the bone mass to another location that needs it more. Overtime, this causes the jawbone to deteriorate and can even cause changes in your facial structure.
