Ring in the New Year with Dental Implants

Published: 01/04/2018

If your 2018 New Year’s resolutions include focusing on your health, don’t forget to make an appointment with your periodontist. Taking care of your oral health is just as important as your overall physical health. Although a missing tooth might seem like a cosmetic problem, when left to its own it can create long-term issues. Dental implants can fill the gap left behind by the missing tooth, improving your oral health and daily life.

Why Should You Replace a Missing Tooth?

All 32 permanent teeth have a role to play in your mouth. The incisors at the front of the mouth help you bite off food. Premolars and molars have the biggest chewing surfaces, which make the food digestible before swallowing. Losing teeth affects many different aspects of your life:

• Missing teeth weakens the jaw bone and pulls the gums back. Neighboring teeth are also weakened, which could mean more possible tooth and jaw bone loss.
• As the jaw bone is lost over time, it also makes your face look older. Not only do you have the cosmetic issue, but you don’t have the bone stability to maintain oral health.
• A missing tooth, especially in the front of your mouth, can affect your speech and self-esteem.

 
Your gums and the surrounding teeth benefit from dental implants. The jaw bone becomes stronger, the aesthetic of your smile is completed, and self-esteem increases.

Solutions to Missing Teeth

Missing teeth are a common problem among Americans. It’s estimated that about 180 million people in the US are missing at least one tooth. But with today’s dental technology, you don’t have to live with missing teeth. Dental implants are designed to look and function like your natural teeth. The implant is made of titanium, which fuses to the jaw bone permanently and prevents future bone loss. The crown that attaches to the implant resembles your teeth, which means you won’t have to be self-conscious about having implants.

Make an appointment with Dr. Moore, an experienced periodontist in Johnson City, TN, who can help you find solutions to your oral care concerns. Make 2018 the year to improve your health by improving your smile.