5 Reasons Why Dental Implants are a Smart Idea

We are getting ready for the warm summer months, and that usually means spending lots of time with friends, families and colleagues. Now is a good time to look — and feel — your very best. You may know that by replacing a missing tooth, dental implants will improve the look of your smile, making you more inclined to flash your pearly whites at parties and in photographs. But are you aware of all the reasons that implants are good for the health of your mouth? Dr. Kenneth Ingber, who offers dental implants in Washington, D.C., strongly believes in the aesthetic and health benefits of these tooth-replacement options.

An Overview

Dental implants replicate the look and feel of natural teeth. Surgically placed in the jawbone, implants provide a sturdy foundation for chewing. Implant posts are made from extremely reliable materials and topped with dental restorations (e.g., crowns, bridges, dentures) that are custom-crafted to blend in with your surrounding teeth.

Good for Your Oral Health

In addition to looking and feeling great, dental implants are good for your oral and overall health. Here’s why:

1. Implants can prevent bone loss. A normal and healthy tooth keeps the bone stimulated through chewing motions. When a tooth falls out, the body can sense that the bone is no longer needed, and the bone starts to dissolve from lack of use. Implants enable normal chewing function, and these motions will restore the stimulation that the bone needs.
2. Implants can prevent deterioration of the facial structure. If the jawbone seriously deteriorates, it can cause the facial structure to collapse. The lips start to fold inward, wrinkles develop around the mouth and the lower face shrivels up. These effects can age a person very quickly. Implants can stop this process from happening.
3. Implants can prevent the teeth from shifting around in the mouth. Over time, the teeth surrounding a gap left by a missing tooth will start to shift around in the mouth and into the gap. Implants fill that gap so the surrounding teeth won’t be prone to drifting around.
4. Implants reduce the risk of periodontal disease. Gaps or spaces left between teeth are difficult to clean, and therefore prime areas for bacteria to accumulate and periodontal disease to thrive. As periodontal disease progresses, it can lead to other health problems, including heart attacks, diabetes, strokes and other inflammatory diseases. Implants are easy to brush and floss to prevent the buildup of bacteria.
5. Implants do not compromise the surrounding teeth. Other tooth-replacement options, such as bridges or partial dentures, clasp or hook onto the teeth surrounding the gap, which puts pressure on these teeth and compromises their integrity. Implants are self-sufficient and do not require the support of the surrounding teeth.

A Better Quality of Life

By restoring a beautiful and healthy looking smile, implants can help you feel more confident about your appearance, and more comfortable around other people, thereby enhancing your quality of life.

Learn More about Dental Implants

If you’re interested in replicating the look and feel of a natural tooth, please contact Dr. Kenneth Ingber, a Washington, D.C., dental implants provider. Call us at 888-549-7682 or send us an email today.