When people lose a tooth to advanced infection, decay, or injury, they often wonder: Will I have a gap in my smile forever? Fortunately, a skilled dentist can fill these with an artificial replacement known as a dental implant. Compared to dentures and bridges, many patients find this treatment to deliver better results and improved comfort.

5 Benefits of Dental Implants

1. Secure Fit

While dentures and bridges are designed to fit over the open space, dental implants replace the entire tooth-and-root system. To do so, your dentist will carefully implant a metal post into the gums.

After the post has healed and fused with the underlying jawbone, an artificial tooth will be placed on top. Thanks to its strong bond with the jaw, dental implants won’t come loose—even when you’re chewing.

2. Natural Appearance

The prosthetic tooth placed over the metal post is custom designed to match the characteristics of the original tooth. Possessing a realistic color and shape, these artificial teeth will blend in with the rest of your smile and make it difficult for anyone to notice that it’s there.

3. Durability  

Bridges usually have to be replaced after about 10 years of use, while dentures may last as long as eight years. By contrast, dental implants are designed to last indefinitely and work just as well as natural teeth. Even if the prosthetic tooth is damaged, your dentist will be able to easily craft a replacement to fit over the original metal post.

4. Jawbone Preservation

When you lose a tooth, you lose all the material that anchored it beneath the gums. Over time, the lack of material will cause the underlying jawbone to deteriorate, possibly causing discomfort and cosmetic issues. Implants help curb this risk by fusing with the bone and allowing it to maintain its integrity.

5. Easy Maintenance

If you have bridges or dentures, you’ll need to adopt extra oral hygiene practices to ensure these prosthetics remain clean and free of harmful food deposits or plaque.

Dental implants, on the other hand, only need the same care that natural teeth do. This simple maintenance should include biannual dental visits, twice-daily brushing, and once-daily flossing.

 

If you’re missing a tooth, the caring Oral Surgery Center, S.C. team is here to help restore your smile with state-of-the-art dental implants. Equipped with oral surgery resources, this Baraboo, WI, dentist will guide you through every step of the implant process with confidence and deliver impressive results. If bone loss is preventing you from the treatment, this clinic can also provide bone grafting to restore the jaw so that it can support the implant. To learn more about this center’s restorative, cosmetic, and preventive services, visit their website. If you’d like to schedule a convenient consultation, call (608) 356-2112.