Are Dental Implants Just Cosmetic?
Dental implants have experienced a surge in popularity in recent years for many reasons. While they are well-known for improving the cosmetic appearance of the mouth and smile, dental implants do so much more than that. As a matter of fact, there are countless non-cosmetic benefits experienced by dental implants. The information below will discuss several of these in more detail.
Non-Cosmetic Benefits of Dental Implants
Many people mistakenly think of dental implants as a primarily cosmetic treatment. However, there are many practical ways in which dental implants can improve a person’s quality of life. Consider the following benefits implants can offer.
* Proper Speech and Pronunciation
Proper communication through speech depends on so much more than just our tongue. When we form words, our tongue makes a variety of unique movements against the teeth to form the sound we are trying to create. Without our teeth, we would not be able to form words accurately in a way that others can understand. While dentures can provide a temporary fix to this problem, many people still find speech difficult because they tend to move around a lot inside the mouth. Dental implants eliminate this issue since they are surgically implanted in the bone beneath the gums.
* Avoiding Bone Loss from Missing Teeth
Under normal conditions, the root of each tooth provides continual stimulation of the bone, allowing it to function normally and remain strong. Whenever a person is missing teeth, there is nothing present to stimulate the bone beneath the gums. While dentures can at least allow a person to have a surface on which to chew food, they do not provide stimulation of the bone. This will result in a gradual deterioration of the bone over time.
* Proper Chewing of Food for Maximum Nutrition
Our teeth are essential elements in the process of chewing food properly. Many people don’t realize that digestion begins in the mouth when we start to chew our food. The process of chewing food produces specific enzymes that facilitate the digestive process and help break down our food into its necessary components. People with missing teeth run the risk of developing serious nutrient deficiencies that can increase their risk of various ailments.
* Reduction in Oral Pain and Development of Abrasions
While dentures, bridges, and similar techniques have been relied upon for decades, they can result in painful abrasions and mouth sores because of the way they move around inside the mouth. In addition, dentures do not always allow an individual to consume more difficult-to-eat foods that require sturdier chewing. Dental implants can reduce or eliminate the risk of painful abrasions in the mouth resulting from ill-fitting dentures.
Should I Consider Dental Implants?
If you have missing teeth and do not like the prospect of having to deal with temporary fixes such as dentures, implants may be an excellent alternative. Additionally, if the functionality of your mouth is being poorly influenced by missing teeth, dental implants can provide a permanent way in which these important issues can be addressed. In addition to providing proper functionality to your mouth, dental implants can make you feel more confident in the appearance of your smile.
You don’t have to suffer the repercussions that missing teeth can bring about. It’s important to understand all of your options when seeking a solution to the dental issues you are facing. Contact our office today to schedule an evaluation to determine if you are a good candidate for tooth implants.
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