3 Ways Dental Implants Can Improve Your Oral Health
Dental implants are artificial teeth that are embedded into the jaw via an abutment; this serves as the tooth's "root." While dental implants are commonly viewed as a convenient alternative to dentures, a crown, or a bridge, they're also a good option for individuals looking to preserve their oral health. Here are a few ways that dental implants can enhance your mouth's well-being.
1. Dental Implants Reduce Bone Loss in Your Jaw
When you're missing a tooth, the jawbone that your missing tooth would attach to will lack stimulation. The roots of the tooth stimulate the bone and encourage it to grow and maintain itself. Without a tooth in place, the jaw bone will eventually start to lose volume. This bone loss will continue for years, potentially putting your other teeth at risk. Without an ample amount of jawbone tissue, your teeth are at risk of breaking when your chew due to stress. They're also more likely to shift without a healthy jawbone to hold them in place.
With dental implants, the abutments fuse to the jawbone and function like your tooth's natural roots. They will continue to stimulate your jawbone and prevent deterioration. The sooner your dental implants are completed, the sooner they can start encouraging your body's production of jawbone tissue.
2. You'll Lower Your Chances of Gum Disease
An empty tooth socket acts as a potential entry point for bacteria to access your gum tissue. This bacteria can inflame and irritate your gums, causing you to suffer from bleeding gums, painful gums, and gum recession. Gum disease can eventually damage your teeth and your jawbone, making it likely that you'll lose more of your teeth.
There are additional health risks associated with gum disease. Individuals with gum disease are more likely to experience a stroke or be diagnosed with heart disease or diabetes. The inflammation caused by the gum disease eventually travels to other portions of the body.
3. Your Dental Implants Minimize the Stress to Your Other Teeth
Once you've lost a tooth, you may compensate for the loss by consistently chewing with a single portion of your mouth. Unfortunately, over time, this puts extra stress on these teeth. They're doing most of the chewing for your mouth, making them more likely to break, crack, or experience a build-up of plaque or tooth decay.
Dental implants help you preserve a natural, comfortable chewing pattern that properly distributes the responsibility of chewing and digesting your food. Reach out to a dentist to discuss dental implants.