One important thing to remember is that tooth loss is not merely a cosmetic issue. In fact, there are important health-related reasons to complete the smile, quickly, after tooth loss.
First, even a single missing tooth can cause problems for the remaining teeth’s alignment. That is because the remaining teeth will likely try to shift to fill the gap that was created by the tooth loss. This can lead to jaw-related pain, and troubles chewing.
Secondly, a missing tooth means that there is no longer a healthy root to supply nutrients to the jaw as one chews. Without this occurring, the jaw can begin to shrink over time. This is actually why many denture-wearers begin to experience discomfort after several years of wearing their prostheses, because while the dentures can complete the smile, initially, they cannot prevent jaw shrinkage.
Dental implants, however, help to replace both a missing tooth and its root, allowing the jaw to remain nourished even over extended periods of time. The post used to mimic the tooth root also stabilizes a replacement tooth in a way that allows for comfortable and efficient chewing. This can allow patients with dental implants to smile confidently over time, knowing their restorative dental treatment will continue to look and function naturally.
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