The health of our mouths and smiles is critical to our overall health. But many patients don’t stop and think about why. And it’s pretty simple. When our mouths are in poor health—cavities in our teeth, gum disease, or otherwise—it can also impact the rest of our bodies. Bad oral health is directly correlated with chronic conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease. But the other thing that happens when we have bad teeth is that we often don’t feel like smiling. And that can have an additional set of negative repercussions. If your mouth is in poor health and you have missing teeth, you should know that dental implant restorations can transform your entire life.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are devices implanted into your jaw to restore your ability to chew and enhance your appearance. Implants support artificial (fake) teeth, such as crowns, bridges, or dentures. Dentists often recommend these devices to adults who have experienced tooth loss. A failure to replace those missing teeth can cause a variety of issues, such as:

• Poor jaw function
• Adjacent teeth drifting into unoccupied spaces
• Bite alignment issues
• Teeth wear/jaw stress
• Jawbone loss 
• Diminished chewing ability
• Aged appearance

Patients who get restorative dentistry treatment, such as dental implants, can expect to experience the following benefits:

1. Improved Appearance

Dental implants look just like your natural teeth. And because implants look so natural, your new smile will give you that new and improved appearance. So, next time a family member or friend wants to take a selfie with you, be sure to stop what you’re doing and say cheese! No one will know you have dental implants unless you tell them.

2. Natural Feel and Function

Implants are designed to feel and function just like your natural teeth too. So, you don’t have to worry about a funny feeling in your mouth all the time. And you’ll be able to chew your food just like before you experienced tooth loss. Another cool thing about implants is that after your mouth has healed from the procedure, you’ll be able to eat all of the foods you enjoy. Implants do not limit what you eat or drink—the choices are all yours.

3. Comfort

Dental implants are the most comfortable of all tooth replacement options. Though the treatment can take several months, the overall outcome is a natural fit and feel. You may have a less-than-ideal fit with other tooth replacement options, such as dentures. Further, patients with dentures often experience slippage, not to mention the inconvenience of removing dentures to clean each day. Your implants are a permanent fixture in your mouth and are designed to feel like your natural teeth.

4. Maintained Jawbone Structure 

New dental implants will preserve your jawbone and prevent additional bone loss. When you decide to get a dental implant, a titanium post is implanted into the jaw bone. Over the next several months, your existing bone grows around the implant and fuses together. This process is called osseointegration. Perhaps more simply stated, your implant stimulates your jawbone like your natural tooth roots. And this means more stability for your other existing natural teeth too.

5. Eat and Chew Favorite Foods

We said this one before, but it deserves repeating. With some tooth replacement options, most specifically dentures, you can’t eat all the foods you love. Hard foods, sticky foods, chewy meats, and beverages with staining qualities are forbidden with dentures. But because dental implants are designed to look, feel, and function just like your natural teeth, you don’t need to worry about your teeth limiting you the next time you go out or prepare a special meal at home. 

This can also improve your quality of life. With implants, you can enjoy crunchy vegetables, nuts, and cheeses that are all tooth-healthy and good for you.

6. Enhanced Self-Confidence

Missing teeth can erode our self-confidence, keeping us from socializing and doing some of the things we like to do. But once your implants have healed, your smile will be restored. And your smile is directly connected with self-confidence. When you smile, you appear more approachable and confident to others, and the results are positively contagious. Try it sometime. Smile at someone. You might be surprised how quickly they smile back. And you’ll be happy to know that smiling helps you live longer! Isn’t that something to feel good about?

See the implant dentist in Corpus Christi.

If you are ready for a tooth implant or need multiple implants, Orchard Dental Associates wants to see you. Our dentists are the best implant dentists in Corpus Christi and know how important a healthy smile is to your overall health. Don’t suffer from missing teeth any longer. Request an appointment today to speak with our team about tooth replacement options and if dental implants are right for you.