Most importantly, dental implants are the only structurally complete tooth replacement intervention. The titanium cylinder that is the dental implant serves as a root-like structure to support a prosthetic crown, or another appliance. This phenomenon is possible because the surrounding bone forms a strong bond with the dental implant after the oral surgeon inserts it into the patient’s jaw.
Many patients take the roots of their teeth for granted, but these structures perform a number of important functions, including stabilizing the jaw. When a tooth is lost but not replaced through implant dentistry, the surrounding jawbone will slowly erode over time because there is no root (or pseudo-root) in place to secure it. As the jawbone atrophies, its shape changes, as well, causing the prosthetic to lose its fit eventually.
Furthermore, the roots of the teeth also assist in chewing. The connection between the root (or dental implant) and the jaw helps the crowns of the teeth tolerate fairly strong chewing forces needed to thoroughly process foods like fresh fruits and vegetables. The chewing function of a conventional appliance may be rather limited, so an oral surgeon can help you to preserve this important duty of your teeth by placing dental implants.
Dental implants also stand alone without support from neighboring teeth, which is another important characteristic that makes them a desirable tooth replacement. Not only do the abutment (adjacent) teeth not need to be altered to make room for dental crowns, the patient retains access to the gum line with a dental implant and is able to brush and floss normally as a result.
Are you interested in learning more about dental implants and exploring whether this treatment might be the right approach for your tooth loss? Call our office at Great River Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery to schedule an initial consultation.