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Dental Implants: The Next Best Thing to Natural Teeth

Redmond Smiles Family & Implant Dentistry Blog Dental Implants: The Next Best Thing to Natural Teeth
Dental Implants: The Next Best Thing to Natural Teeth

The leading causes of tooth loss in the United States are decay (cavities) and periodontal (gum) disease, and it’s a bigger problem than you probably think. According to the CDC, by the time you reach age 17, 7% of individuals have already lost at least one permanent tooth to decay.

Sixty-nine percent in the 35-to-44-year-old group have lost at least one tooth, and by the time you reach 50, the average person has lost 12 teeth, including their wisdom teeth.

Tooth loss is a problem because it can lead to an atrophy of bone tissue in the jaw from lack of bite pressure, shifting teeth that lead to poor tooth alignment, difficulty eating that leads to a poor diet and disrupted digestion, difficulty speaking properly, and a lowered overall quality of life.

At Redmond Smiles Family & Implant Dentistry in Redmond and Bellevue, Washington, our expert team of dental providers offers dental implants as a restoration option that can help mitigate the problems of missing teeth. Here’s why our team believes that implants are the next best thing to your natural teeth.

What are dental implants?

Unlike dentures, which are removable false teeth that sit atop the gums and are held on by suction or dental adhesive, dental implants aren’t removable but are intended to be a permanent restoration option. They consist of a titanium post that’s surgically implanted into the jawbone and is connected to a crown, bridge, or denture by an abutment.

Implants act as a whole-tooth restoration. Because the post is implanted in the bone, it acts like a natural tooth root and stimulates bone growth with bite pressure. Its presence also prevents the teeth on either side of the gap from shifting into the space. And because the crowns or dentures that sit on top are shaded to appear like natural teeth, no one will know you had work done.

Dental implants also improve your oral health. A partial denture can slip and slide in your mouth, digging into your gums and even leading to infection, as bacteria and fungi thrive in their cracks and crevices.

On the other hand, implants are fixed within the jaw, so they don’t move around. They also provide easier access between your teeth when you floss, eliminating the bacteria and fungi before they can do any harm.

In addition, options like dentures or tooth-supported bridges may require that the dentist shave nearby teeth to place them, but implants don’t require that you alter any other teeth, keeping your mouth and remaining teeth healthy.

Dental implants are long-lasting. In fact, they can last a lifetime as long as you continue to brush, floss, and visit your dentist for professional cleanings twice a year.

The crown, bridge, or implant-supported denture that sits on top generally needs to be replaced every 10-15 years as a result of normal wear-and-tear.

Am I a good candidate for dental implants?

You're generally a good candidate if you:

You also need to be willing to commit several months to the process. After the post is implanted in the jaw, you need to wait 3-6 months for the site to heal, a process called osseointegration. Here, the bone tissue fuses with the implant, ensuring that it remains securely in its place for the rest of your life.

Once secured, the dentist can then attach the crown, bridge, or denture that will mimic the part of the tooth above the gum line. At that point, you have what is, to all extent, a complete, natural-looking tooth.

Want to learn more about how dental implants can help with tooth loss? Contact Redmond Smiles Family & Implant Dentistry by calling us at either location or booking an appointment online with us today.