Getting dental implants isn’t just about replacing your missing teeth. Although the permanent restorations are designed to mimic the look and feel of natural teeth as closely as possible, they also bring several added benefits.
Once an implant is installed into your jaw, a natural process known as “osseointegration” occurs. Essentially, it involves the formation of new bone around the implant, securing it into place.
Typically, when a tooth is lost, the bone in that area starts to resorb. This can jeopardize the stability of the neighbouring teeth, causing unwanted mobility and eventual tooth loss. Placing the implant soon after a tooth has gone missing can help you to protect the rest of your smile.
Conventional tooth replacement treatments have traditionally involved fixed bridges that are anchored over the teeth adjacent to the gap left by missing teeth.
In order for a bridge to be placed, the neighbouring teeth have to be drilled or filed down. For teeth that need to be restored, this isn’t usually a concern. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for perfectly healthy, virgin teeth. Instead of reshaping a tooth that has nothing wrong with it, an implant allows you to preserve optimal tooth structure instead of placing a restoration that isn’t necessarily needed.
Having an open gap in your smile may seem like a simple, aesthetic flaw. However, even a bit of extra space in your bite can cause teeth to shift throughout your entire mouth. Even the teeth in the opposing arch are often impacted. You might consider the alignment similar to having a neat row of books on the shelf, from which you draw one out of the centre. It’s just a matter of time before the others lean out of place.
Advanced dental implant technology makes getting new teeth easier and more predictable than ever. For experienced care, contact Empress Walk Dental in North York. We’ll be happy to provide a stress-free consultation to review which tooth replacement options are best for your smile.
