How Scaling and Planing Can Heal Your Gum Tissue
Gum disease is a top cause of tooth loss among adults, and while it’s really common, the good news is it can be treated — and even prevented. Here’s how root planing and scaling can help.
Why Do I Need a Dental Implant?
If you’re one of the 120 million American adults who are missing at least one tooth — or one of the 36 million men and women who have no teeth — then you have a personal understanding of how tooth loss can affect your life. Fortunately, there are solutions for missing teeth, including dental implants, a tooth-restoration option that’s soaring in popularity.
Dental implants come with lots of benefits compared to other restoration options, like dentures and bridges. As a leading implant dentist in Fairfax, Virginia, Hiba Zakhour, DDS, helps patients at A to Z Dental Studio understand the advantages of implants, so they can feel confident in their choice of restoration.
Dental implants 101
Dental implants are made of three components:
- A post implanted in your jawbone
- A crown or “artificial” tooth
- An abutment piece that connects the post and crown
Impressions help ensure the crown “matches” the space and blends in with the rest of your teeth.
Typically, you’ll need at least two appointments to place an implant: one to implant the post, then a second visit several months later to attach the crown. During the intervening weeks, your jawbone fuses with the post so it’s completely secure.
Individual dental implants are great for replacing single teeth or a few teeth. If you’re missing all your teeth, Dr. Zakhour restores your smile by implanting a series of posts that are used to attach a full arch of crowns, so your smile looks and feels naturally beautiful.
Benefits of dental implants
Regardless of the restoration option you select, one thing is the same: It’s important to replace a missing tooth as soon as possible to avoid more serious problems, like additional tooth loss. Beyond that, though, there are some clear advantages to implants.
Here’s why you might want to make an implant your ultimate choice to replace one or more missing teeth.
They’re secure
This is probably the benefit most people are likely to notice the most. Dentures do a good job of helping people restore functions, like chewing, eating, and talking. But they rest on top of your gums, and that means that even when they fit well, they can still “surprise” you by slipping out occasionally.
Not only is denture slippage embarrassing, but it can also lead to sore spots and infections. Denture adhesives may help, but they’re a mess to deal with. Dental implants are embedded in your jawbone, so they hold fast, even when you’re chewing and biting.
They could help prevent additional tooth loss
Of course, implants won’t help prevent tooth loss if you don’t care for your teeth with brushing, flossing, and regular dental visits. But they can help prevent your jawbone from getting thin — something dentures and bridges can’t do.
Your jawbone is constantly renewing itself in a cycle that replaces old bone with new bone tissue. Your tooth roots play a key role in that process, stimulating tissue renewal. When a tooth is gone, that stimulation is gone too, and bone replacement slows down dramatically.
Dental implants act as a “substitute root,” stimulating the jawbone to replenish itself naturally. Dentures and bridges rest on top of your gums, so they can’t stimulate bone replacement — and that can lead to thin bones and weak teeth.
They’re comfortable
Since they’re secured to your jawbone, dental implants feel like your natural teeth. Plus, they don’t feel “too big for your mouth” like dentures can. You don’t have to worry about having an implant refitted, either — a common occurrence with dentures.
They’re easy to care for
Dentures and bridges both have specific care routines to maintain the restoration and the teeth and gums surrounding them. With dental implants, you brush and floss just like you do with your own natural teeth. Regular dental checkups ensure the gums and implants are in top condition.
They’ll help you feel more confident
This is a big benefit, no matter how many teeth you’re missing. Tooth loss tends to have a major impact on your self-confidence and self-esteem. By replacing one or more missing teeth with dental implants, you can restore your confidence, knowing your “new” implants look as natural as your own teeth.
Learn more about implants
Dental implants offer plenty of advantages for women and men missing one or several teeth. If you’re ready to find out how dental implants can improve your oral health and your confidence, Dr. Zakhour can help. Call 571-290-7035 to schedule an office visit or book an appointment online at A to Z Dental Studio today.
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