Your healthy, natural teeth are more complex than they may seem at first glance. On one hand, simple things like tooth sensitivity or a slight misalignment in your teeth can seem minor, but under the surface, they could cause a range of complications with your oral health, bite function, and more. On the other hand, the role that your healthy teeth play in your oral health can also be more complicated than it seems. Today, we examine why the more intricate way dental implants replace teeth matters to your oral health, and why they’re often the best solution at fully restoring the functions of your lost teeth.
The biological role of your natural tooth structure
In addition to biting and chewing your food properly and making your smile look healthy, your teeth are responsible for providing support to your dental ridges and surrounding facial structures. For example, their alignment can significantly influence the shape and appearance of your jawbone over time, which can impact the overall symmetry of your facial features. Also, the roots of your teeth, which aren’t visible, are a key factor in the stimulation that your jawbone relies on to maintain its supply of minerals and nutrients. When replacing a tooth, the success of the restoration largely depends on how much of the healthy, natural tooth’s function it can restore, which makes dental implants the preferable solution in many cases.
The unique abilities of dental implant restorations
Traditionally, tooth replacement options such as dental bridges and dentures focus mainly on replacing the visible parts of teeth that are lost or extracted. This can restore a substantial amount of your bite’s function, as your teeth crowns are responsible for the action of biting and chewing your food, as well as for filling out your smile. Dental implants are designed to improve this function by adding the support of one or more root-like dental implant posts to the restoration. The implants replicate healthy, natural teeth roots, giving your restoration greater comfort and support without having to rely on existing tooth structure to remain in place.
The impacts of dental implants on your long-term smile
By mimicking natural teeth roots to support your replacement teeth, dental implants are able to provide a more realistic form to modern dental restorations. This realism has significant impacts on the comfort and quality of your dental bridge or denture, as well as to the long-term state of your oral health and dental ridges. The roots of your teeth play a significant role in your jawbone’s health and integrity, and losing them can have a detrimental impact on the jawbone structure. Filling the space in your dental ridge with one or more dental implant posts can help stop the loss of mass and density in your jawbone and better preserve your smile.
Learn about replacing lost teeth with dental implants
Dental implants offer a more comprehensive way of replacing the healthy, natural tooth structure you’ve lost, as well as reestablishing the many functions a natural tooth is responsible for. To learn more, schedule an appointment or initial consultation by calling Advanced Dental Concepts in Auburn Hills, MI, today at (248) 852-1820.
