Benefits of Dental Implants
St. Paul, Minneapolis, Woodbury, Hudson, Lake Elmo, Stillwater - MN
It may seem obvious to you that losing a tooth or teeth due to injury, periodontal disease or decay affects both your smile and your bite. You don’t look as good if there are gaps in your smile, and eating without all of your teeth can be difficult. More than this, though, is that those gaps in your teeth won’t stay open. Your other teeth will migrate toward the hole creating further problems as your teeth leave their optimal position.
A bad bite and poorly spaced teeth can affect the way your face looks as your jaw line begins to change through bone resorption. The bone tissue literally begins to shrink to fill the gap. This will give your face an older, wasted look. One of the best solutions for missing teeth is dental implants because they replace the missing root and support the bridge or crown placed on it.
If you are interested in finding out more how dental implants can correct the gaps in your gum line, please contact Minneapolis area cosmetic dentist Dr. Nippoldt for an initial consultation.
Dental implants can:
- Replace one or more teeth without affecting teeth on the border of the gap
- Provide support for dentures to make them secure and comfortable
- Support a bridge and eliminate the need for a partial removable denture
Dental implants are made of titanium and look like a small screw. Two types of implants are used today:
- Subperiosteal (on the bone) – Placed on top of the jaw with the posts protruding through the gum to hold the prosthetic tooth. Used in patients who cannot wear conventional dentures and have minimal bone height in their jaw
- Endosteal (in the bone) – the most common type of dental implant which can hold one or more prosthetic teeth. Often used as an alternative for patients with bridges or removable dentures
Dental Implant Benefits
- Aesthetic benefit – Dental implants with their replacement teeth look and feel like natural teeth. Bone loss and gum recession is prevented, and no one will even notice you have implants
- Tooth saving – Abutting teeth are not touched like they are with a bridge, so quality is not sacrificed. This is a significant benefit to your overall dental health
- Reliability – Success rates of 90% make dental implants an incredibly reliable option for replacement teeth
Dental implants are like your own teeth and will require the same kind of brushing and flossing. Regular dental appointments are also important to keeping your dental implants in good shape.
If you are in the St. Paul, Minneapolis, Woodbury, Lake Elmo, or Hudson, Minnesota area, please contact Dr. Nippoldt at the Centre for Distinctive Dentistry to discuss if dental implants are right for you.
