Dental Implants
Dental implants have emerged in recent years as one of the best options for tooth replacement. An implant acts just like a regular tooth, with a titanium root screwed into the bone that holds a crown or denture above your gumline. These tooth replacements look great and can last a lifetime if you care for them properly using good oral hygiene. They are a great treatment option for many patients, and with technological advances and innovations in dental implants, they may even be an option for patients who were once told they could not get implants.
Who Should Get Dental Implants?
Anyone with one or more missing teeth — or teeth that are damaged, decayed or broken and cannot be repaired — can be a candidate for dental implants. Even patients who have dentures or who may need full or partial dentures could get implant-supported dentures, a procedure that provides a full row of top and/or bottom teeth that are held in place by titanium dental implants along your jaw.
Even if you were previously told that you could not get dental implants, talk to our dentists about your options. As technology has improved for dental implants, they can now be used in patients with bone loss or other health conditions that may have prevented you from getting them in the past.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Many people today who need one or more teeth replaced opt for dental implants because they:
- Look and feel just like your natural teeth
- Can last a lifetime with proper oral hygiene and care
- Restore your ability to eat and chew any food you want, such as steaks, apples and other foods that may have been off-limits with dentures or missing teeth
- Prevent bone loss that can occur when you have missing teeth; your jawbone is strengthened by chewing, so when you have missing teeth and cannot chew, the bone deteriorates over time
- Provide fullness to your face and cheeks and avoid a sunken appearance that can come with dentures, tooth loss and/or bone loss
- Prevent adjacent teeth from moving or shifting, which is common when you have missing teeth
- Help maintain your natural bite and prevent pain or TMJ disorders
- Prevent gum disease from bacteria that can get trapped under dentures or gaps around your gums
Dental Implants vs. Other Treatments
Most people who get dental implants find they provide more benefits than some other treatment options. However, it’s important to note that not everyone will be able to get dental implants, and in some situations, it will be more effective or less expensive to get a different type of treatment to replace a missing tooth, such as dentures, crowns or bridges. You can talk to your dentist about what will work best based on your individual situation, your insurance coverage, financial situation and other factors.
Get a Consultation Today
If you are missing teeth and considering dental implants, call Young Family Dental today to schedule an appointment. Every day you wait is a day that you will miss out on all the benefits that dental implants can provide. Our experienced cosmetic dentists and family dentists are ready to help at any of our five convenient Utah locations in West Jordan, Riverton, American Fork, Saratoga Springs and Orem.