The New Year holiday celebrates new beginnings – and if you are missing one or more teeth, it could mark the start of your journey to transform your smile and restore your confidence. Missing a tooth often makes people feel insecure and embarrassed to laugh, smile or even talk around others. In addition, a gap in your smile can have serious negative impacts on your health over time. If you have been considering rejuvenating your smile but just have not made the commitment, the new year is the perfect time to finally take action. You can get started by reading the information below about dental implants in Columbia.
What is a Dental Implant?
A dental implant is a titanium rod or screw that is inserted into the jawbone and fuses with the bone over time through a natural process known as “osseointegration”. By mimicking the natural tooth root structure, dental implants provide an extremely stable base for a new artificial tooth or bridge. After successful implantation, patients can once again eat, speak and smile with confidence!
3 Negative Impacts of Missing Teeth
Replacing a missing tooth isn’t an exercise in vanity – a gap in your smile can have a serious impact on your health. Here are just a few ways how:
- Bone Loss – When a tooth goes missing the jawbone can atrophy, much like how an unused muscle slowly shrinks away.
- Sunken Face – Your face can begin to look sunken and aged without your teeth to help support its shape and structure.
- Shifting Teeth – Over time, your remaining teeth may shift into the empty space left by a missing tooth, negatively impacting your bite.
The Advantages of Dental Implants
Dental implants offer several important advantages compared to traditional restorative dentistry options like crowns and bridges, such as:
- Maximum Support – Dental implants provide nearly the same chewing power of natural teeth, so you can bite into any of your favorite foods – including hard foods like apples – without worry.
- Preserve Healthy Teeth – Conventional bridges require the healthy teeth on either side to be slightly shaved down. Because implants are supported by the titanium post in the jaw, your healthy teeth can remain untouched.
- Natural Appearance – Implants are custom-designed in shape and color to seamlessly blend in with your natural teeth. Your friends, family and coworkers likely won’t notice your implant – they will just see your beautiful smile!
Am I a Good Candidate?
With a success rate of approximately 98%, dental implants offer a reliable solution for replacing missing teeth for most adult men and women. However, several key factors can determine successful implant treatment, such as:
- The health of your gums
- Sufficient jawbone depth
- Whether you practice excellent oral hygiene at home
There is no better time than the new year to take action and restore your smile and your confidence. Talk to a dentist in Columbia today about the many benefits of dental implants.
About the Author
Dr. Victor Beck has proudly provided quality dental care in the Columbia, TN community for the past 40 years. The Tennessee native especially enjoys helping patients rebuild their smile with dental implants and other restorative dentistry treatments. For more information on dental implants, patients can visit the Beck Dental Care website or call the office at 931-388-8452.