Millions of Americans suffer from tooth loss each year. Thankfully, today’s technology provides these patients with better options than were available in the past. It used to be the case that anyone missing teeth had to settle for ill-fitting dentures that needed to be replaced frequently and didn’t adequately mimic the natural appearance of real teeth.
Today, Dental Implants can often be used instead of full or partial dentures to replace one or even many missing teeth. Once the procedure has been completed, these implants both look and feel just like natural teeth. That’s not the only benefit of implants when compared to dentures and bridges, though.
Improved Comfort
Dental implants work by integrating a metal screw into the patient’s natural jawbone via a process known as osseointegration. Once this process has been completed, they will literally become a part of the patient’s mouth. As a result, implants offer a level of comfort that was previously unavailable with removable dentures.
Improved Speech
Ill-fitting dentures can move around in a patient’s mouth, causing slurred speech and other speech impediments. With implants, patients don’t have to worry about learning how to accommodate for their dental prostheses. Implants can be shaped to feel just like the patient’s natural teeth, allowing them to speak easily without fear.
Improved Eating
Traditional dentures come with an entire list of foods that patients will no longer be able to eat. In comparison, implants allow patients to eat all of their favorite foods without pain or fear of damage. There is no possibility they will come loose or be damaged when consuming sticky foods, allowing patients to continue eating their normal diets.
Improved Durability
Unlike removable dentures, implants are designed to provide a long-term solution to the problem of missing teeth. Dentures must be refitted periodically to accommodate bone loss and other maxillofacial changes. Implants, if properly cared for, can last a lifetime.
Learn More Today
Not all patients are ideal candidates for implant surgery. The only person who can determine for sure whether or not a patient’s unique jaw structure and bite will accommodate one or more implants is a qualified dentist. Contact Robert S. Ogden DDS PA to schedule an appointment with one such dental professional today.
