How Dental Implants Work

When you understand how the three pieces of a dental implant restoration work together, you can start to see the amazing benefits it gives your smile. Beyond just restoring the look of your teeth, dental implants have a number of aesthetic and health benefits for your whole mouth.

Dental Implants Provide a Natural Look and Feel for Better Support

Implant-supported restorations are designed to function just like your normal teeth! Because the dental implants are securely placed in your jawbone, your new teeth will be securely supported all the way through your jawbone—just like the rest of your natural teeth.

While other dental solutions like dentures or crowns can restore the visibility and some chewing functionality of your teeth, they fall short by being supported only by the gums or by the surrounding teeth. This places stress on the rest of your mouth which can cause your other teeth to wear down faster or shift out of place.

Only dental implants mimic the root of your tooth and provide the support that goes all the way down to your jawbone. With this support your new porcelain tooth is designed to function seamlessly alongside your regular teeth. This means that you can count on dental implants to support you in your daily activities and eating your favorite foods that you love the most.

Dental Implants Strengthen the Jawbone and Mouth Structure

A common misconception about missing teeth is that they only look bad and can make eating more uncomfortable. While this is certainly true, the reality is that there is a lot more at risk for your oral health when you lose your teeth.

Your mouth is like a well-oiled machine. Every part of it is an essential part of an active ecosystem that relies on the proper functioning of the other components. If one part of your oral health fails, other parts will eventually go with it.

When you lose a permanent tooth, the tooth root underneath is no longer supporting and stimulating the nerves of that part of your jawbone. Overtime, this part of your bone can shrink away from lack of use—changing your overall facial structure and causing other teeth to shift out of place at the same time.

A dental implant replaces the tooth root—something traditional dentures or dental bridges don’t do. This means your jawbone can stay strong and supported. After dental implant surgery, the implant fuses with your jawbone, becoming a part of your facial structure while supporting the crown, bridge, dentures that will resume all of the other functions of your original teeth.

Dental Implants Can Last Almost a Lifetime

If you are going to invest in dental implants you are probably asking yourself how long the dental implants last. We’re excited to tell you that dental implants can last an average of 20–25 years or more!

While the implant itself stays secure in your jaw, the tooth restoration on top—your dental crown, bridge, or dentures—may need to be replaced every 10–15 years, however. You will use the replacement tooth or teeth in all of your daily activities including eating, smiling, and speaking.

Those replacement teeth will be made to be strong and durable, but they will still need the consistent care and attention that all of your teeth deserve. Daily brushing and flossing will help to ensure that you maximize the potential lifespan of your replacement crown or crowns.

Dental Implants Are Worth the Cost for Your Long-Term Oral Health

It makes sense to be wary about the cost of dental implants, but the price of ignoring the missing tooth in your mouth can end up being much more expensive in the long run.

As we mentioned, your teeth rely on the others surrounding them to maintain their proper position, and your jawbone relies on your teeth to support your facial structure and keep you chewing properly so you can keep your nutrition up.

If you don’t take care of your missing tooth, then your mouth will suffer the consequences of a jawbone shrinkage and shifting teeth. These problems can lead to many trips to the dental office to fix the resulting damage. These additional expenses will not be necessary if you simply decide to get implants to fix your teeth and support your oral health right away!