Okemos, Lansing, and East Lansing, MI
More than 120 million Americans have lost at least one permanent tooth. Are you one of them? If so, you probably have thought about replacing that tooth and restoring your smile. Currently, a dental implant is considered the finest method of tooth replacement that currently is available. If you’re still undecided on whether or not an implant is worth it, one of Okemo’s best implant dentists, Dr. Christine Tenaglia, wants you to know about these three surprising benefits of dental implants.
Benefit 1: An Implant Prevents Bone Loss
When you lose a permanent tooth, the jawbone underneath loses the constant stimulation that came from the tooth root. As a result, resorption occurs. This means your body starts absorbing bone from the portion of the jawbone where the missing tooth once resided. Eventually, due to resorption, your supporting bone structure will begin to deteriorate, potentially compromising the stability of other teeth near the missing one and leading to additional tooth loss. Getting a dental implant is the only way to provide continuous jawbone stimulation. This is possible because the titanium implant screw is inserted directly into the jawbone, replacing the missing tooth’s root.
Benefit 2: Implants Support Themselves
Other methods of tooth replacement, such as dental bridges, rely on existing teeth in your mouth for support. This can place undue stress on the adjacent teeth, which, in combination with the usual exertion of force when biting and chewing, could affect the alignment of those teeth. One of the surprising facts about a dental implant is that it is self-supporting. It is anchored by the implant screw and does not rely on other teeth for support. Once placed in the jawbone, the implant screw eventually fuses with your bone, providing tremendous stability. As a result, an implant will not slip or shift in the mouth.
Benefit 3: Implants Are Easy To Maintain
Maintaining an implant is easy. Consisting of an implant screw, a dental crown, and an abutment that connects the crown to the top of the screw, an implant looks, feels, and functions more like a natural tooth than any other method of tooth replacement. Not only that, but you can clean your implant just like a real tooth. Brush and floss it like your other teeth, and have it examined at your check-ups twice a year at your Okemos dentist. With this simple regimen of care, an implant should last for the rest of your life.
Dental Implants in Okemos
Living with lost permanent teeth can compromise your oral health and looks. You owe it to yourself to at least find out if a dental implant is right for you. Worried about paying for a dental implant? Don’t let finances dictate decisions about your care. We work with all dental insurance providers, as well as third-party financing companies like Care Credit and Lending Club. To learn more about dental implants or any of the other methods of tooth replacement we use at Tenaglia Smiles, call (517) 347-6733 to schedule a consultation if you live in the areas of Okemos, Lansing, and East Lansing in Michigan.