Tooth loss can occur due to a variety of reasons. You may even have one or few congenitally missing teeth. Dental implants are a popular and safe way to replace missing teeth among adults, and may even be given in adolescents once their facial growth has completed. There are various benefits of getting dental implants, some of which we will discuss here.

Enhanced Appearance:

Dental implants unite into the bone they are placed in, which imparts a property known as osseoperception to the entire restoration. With the placement of the dental crown onto the implant, the entire restoration is designed by your dentist to most closely resemble your natural tooth in terms of both appearance and feel. Patients achieve the confidence to smile and make use of their dental implants much like they would with their natural teeth. 

Permanent Replacement for Missing Teeth:

The dental implant is placed by drilling it into the jawbone and allowing it to integrate with the surrounding bone. This process is known as osseointegration. Osseointegration allows dental implants to be one of the longest-lasting dental restorations; essentially permanent. With proper care and maintenance, dental implants can last you a lifetime and may never need to be replaced. In contrast, other tooth replacement options like bridges and dentures need to be replaced every 5-10 years on average, which can cost more money and time. 

Maintain the Integrity of Facial Bone Structure:

Jawbone structure is maintained by the stimulation provided to it by tooth roots. Loss of teeth results in loss of bone mass over time, which can distort the facial structure and make you look older. The gaps left behind by missing teeth can also lead to the tipping of adjacent teeth into the empty space, causing misalignment of the remaining teeth. Dental implants serve the same function as the tooth root within the jawbone and can help preserve this bone structure, thereby maintaining a youthful appearance. 

Conservative Preparation:

Dental bridges require the teeth adjacent to the missing tooth to be ground down for the placement of dental crowns that will support the bridge. Partial dentures may also require some amount of tooth preparation before being fitted for the denture. Dental implants are a conservative type of restoration and do not require any type of tooth preparation. They allow the remaining teeth to maintain their structural integrity and restore normal appearance and functions of the missing teeth. 

Improved Functionality:

Dental implants closely resemble natural teeth in not just appearance but also the functionality. They allow patients to eat a variety of foods much like they would with their own teeth. Unlike dentures, which can fall out while speaking or eating, dental implants remain anchored to the jawbone and function like natural teeth while chewing and talking. 

Dental implants have proven to give excellent long-term value in terms of both monetary and psychological benefits. They have a high success rate and increasingly positive reviews across recipients of all ages and backgrounds. For more information about the dental implant procedure and your suitability for the same, contact us at Minneapolis Dental today.