Dental implants are considered the pinnacle of tooth replacement, but they can require a big investment on the patient’s part. Some people have already spent considerable time and money getting dentures and may wonder if getting dental implants could be worth the effort. Here are some of the ways dental implants can deliver a massive return on your investment by improving your quality of life.
How Can Dental Implants Make Such a Big Difference?
Unlike traditional dentures or bridges, dental implants are securely anchored to the jawbone. This allows them to function like real teeth or anchor a set of attached dentures. Dental implant patients can smile proudly and easily chew foods that would cause difficulty for traditional restorations. People are more likely to smile if they feel good about their teeth, and smiling frequently makes someone seem friendly, approachable, and confident. This can open up social and professional opportunities that previously seemed distant to a patient.
What Is Speaking with Dental Implants Like?
Dental implants also make it easier to speak. While a well-fitting pair of dentures should stay still during use, the mouth will still change over time. When a denture doesn’t fit properly, it can slip or come loose in the middle of speech, which can make pronunciation difficult or even cause it to fall out. Since dental implants are anchored in place, they function just like real teeth during speech, allowing the patient to speak without fear of their restoration coming out of place.
What Can Dental Implants Do for My Jaw?
The jawbone needs exercise to remain healthy and strong, and this exercise normally comes from the teeth as they chew. After a tooth is lost, the part of the jaw that supported it loses the exercise it provided. This will cause it to atrophy and recede, which can make the neighboring teeth more vulnerable to injury and decay by pulling them out of alignment. This can lead to a vicious cycle of tooth loss, and the jaw can recede from the face significantly over time, leaving a patient’s face with a frail, sunken, old appearance.
Unlike dentures, dental implants restore this exercise, which can prevent or even reverse the atrophy of the jawbone. This allows them to keep a patient looking younger and healthier for decades.
Dental implants have an impressive 95% success rate. With proper care, they can last for twenty-five years or more. That makes them a sound, long-term investment that can have a significant and positive impact on your quality of life.
About the Author
Dr. Frank Michitti earned his dental doctorate from The Ohio State University College of Dentistry and has continued pursuing further training through the Dawson Academy. He is a proud member of the American Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry, and the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. His office in Agawam, MA offers preventive, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as dental implants. For more information on the benefits of dental implants, contact his office online or dial (413) 786-4400.