The impact of a missing tooth goes far beyond a goofy grin. When you lose a tooth, you jeopardize the health of your existing teeth and you also compromise your ability to speak and chew as you normally do. To restore your smile, and your dental health, we offer dental implants, which aren’t exactly the same as your original teeth, but they come awfully close.
If you’re looking for tooth replacement options, Dr. Robert F. Wilcox offers a number of different solutions to our patients in Butte, Montana, but none stack up to a dental implant in terms of form and function.
Here’s a look at why so many of our patients find dental implants to be the best choice when it comes to replacing teeth
When you get a dental implant, we anchor a metal post into your jawbone to hold your artificial tooth. With time, your natural bone grows up and around the post, fusing it into place. With partial dentures, you don’t benefit from this same security as these removable devices aren’t nearly as stable.
Each tooth in your mouth relies on its neighboring teeth for structure and support. So, if you lose one, other teeth in the area begin to shift into the empty space. As your teeth move out of position, you can experience changes with your appearance, ability to chew, and your bite alignment. With a dental implant, we’re able to restore order, keeping your existing teeth firmly in place.
When you’re missing a tooth, the effect goes far beyond a gap in your smile. Since the loss of your tooth means the loss of the root, that area in your jawbone can lose 25% of its volume -- and it will continue deteriorating in the years to come. Dental implants simulate a tooth right down to the roots, which helps to maintain your bone health and stimulate new growth.
Your jawbone isn’t the only thing that benefits from having a dental implant; your gums do too. Having a missing tooth creates more areas in your mouth to trap bacteria that can lead to gum or periodontal disease. By plugging up this entry point, you can protect your overall gum health.
Most options for missing teeth need replacement every 5-10 years, which can be a significant investment in your time and money. But your dental implant is built to go the distance as the metal implant is naturally fused into your bone. While we may need to replace the crown on occasion, for all intents and purposes, your implant is a permanent fixture.
For more information on why implants are such a popular choice for replacing teeth, please give us a call or schedule an appointment online today.
