When your teeth are falling apart and you have to get them pulled out, you have a decision to make. You can either get partials, get dentures, get implants, or leave the gap between your teeth. Dental implants in Gainesville are a great option over the others, as they provide the following benefits.
Bone Loss Prevention
The bones of your jaw are designed to hold in your teeth. If you have your teeth pulled, the bone no longer has that job to do. It will begin to disintegrate.
Getting dentures and partials will not change this, as they sit on top of your gums. Dental implants, on the other hand, are placed in the bone. Since the bone still has the job of holding something in place, it will not disintegrate.
Natural Look and Feel
One of the greatest things about dental implants is that they are a lot like your natural teeth. They look like your natural teeth, which can make you feel much more confident when you smile. They stay in place, so you don’t have to worry about them moving around while you eat or talk. And you can chew pretty much anything you can with regular teeth.
Prevents Gum Disease and Shifting Teeth
When you get your teeth pulled, it leaves a gap in your gums. This can cause a couple of issues. The first is that bacteria and food can get trapped, which can lead to infections and gum disease.
The second is that without something in place, the teeth on either side can start to shift inward. This not only causes you to have crooked teeth, but it can also cause trouble chewing and even lead to TMJ – causing pain and headaches.
Dental implants are one of the best ways to prevent all of this. They fill in the hole from the missing teeth, preventing gum disease and infection. They also help to keep your other teeth in place.
Keeps Your Face in Its Natural Shape
When bone loss and tooth shifting occur, it can dramatically impact the face’s shape. Most people experience sagging and wrinkles that aren’t due to aging. It makes them look much older, sometimes long before their time. Dental implants help to keep the face in its natural, youthful shape.
More Permanent Option
When you choose dentures or partials, you face the chance of having to get them replaced every few years – 10 years is often the maximum. Dental implants, however, can last a lifetime – making them a much more worthwhile investment.
There was a time when you had to get dental implants pretty much immediately after having your teeth pulled. This is because once the teeth are pulled, bone loss can begin quickly. If you didn’t get the implants before too much bone loss occurred, there wouldn’t be enough foundation for them to be inserted into.
Now, there are procedures that can address this, like bone grafting. If you thought your chances of having implants were slim to none because you’ve been without teeth for a while, it’s worth a trip to the dentist for a consultation.