If you live with tooth loss, you may not be terribly happy with your smile when you look in the mirror. Having a smile that’s hard to be proud of can take a significant toll on your self-esteem, which can make you hesitant to go to social events, put yourself out there, and engage with other people in general. Here’s how dental implants can bolster your confidence by replacing missing teeth with beautifully lifelike restorations.
Dental Implants Help You Look Younger
Like the rest of the body, the jawbone needs regular exercise to stay healthy and strong, and this stimulation normally comes from the teeth working against them during the chewing process. This exercise is lost after tooth loss, and the jawbone will begin to atrophy and recede shortly afterward. As the bone structure falls away, it can drag neighboring teeth out of alignment to make them vulnerable to injury and infection, which can restart the cycle of tooth loss. If this is allowed to go on, the mouth will sink into the face, giving its owner an elderly and withered appearance.
Traditional restorations like dentures and bridges do not restore this needed exercise, meaning that the process of bone loss will continue while wearing them. Dental implants, on the other hand, are placed directly into the jawbone, meaning that they restore this stimulation during the chewing process. Dental implants can prevent or even reverse bone loss, allowing the patient to maintain a youthful and robust profile for years to come.
Dental Implants Let You Eat Whatever You Like
One of the biggest drawbacks of tooth loss is that it can limit what kinds of foods you can eat, which can detract from how much you can enjoy a meal with friends and loved ones. Many delicious items like steak, nuts, and corn on the cob are quite difficult to chew with missing teeth, and while traditional dentures can beautifully restore a smile, they don’t have the stable hold they need to pulverize these foods into a mass that can be easily swallowed.
Since dental implants are surgically placed in the jawbone where they fuse to the surrounding bone structure through the natural process of osseointegration, they enjoy a sturdy hold that allows them to handle all sorts of foods. This means you can go to the steakhouse or the neighborhood barbeque with your friends and chow down with the best of them.
Dental implants are a long-term investment that can dramatically improve your confidence and overall quality of life. After a brief consultation, your dentist will be able to tell you if you can be a good candidate for them.
About the Author
Dr. Nada Elsadig earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery from the Howard School of Dentistry, where she received top awards for prosthodontics, endodontics, and leadership skills. She has published many articles in My Health Magazine, which provides health education information to local communities. Her office in Falls Church, VA includes general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as dental implants. To book a consultation for dental implants, contact her online or dial (703) 241-5775.