Why Dental Implants Are So Sturdy

According to the American College of Prosthodontics, nearly half the population is missing at least one tooth. While this might not seem like such a big deal, having even one missing tooth can alter your “bite” (how well your teeth line up with one another) which can make a big difference in mouth pain or facial structure. 

Normally, an adult's mouth has 32 teeth. Among people who have missing teeth, the average number missing is 6.5. While there are many possible causes of missing teeth, it’s also important to replace these teeth to prevent jaw bone loss. The providers at Whole Body Dental in Bellevue, Washington, explain more about why dental implants are such a reliable choice.

The causes of missing teeth

Maybe you’re only missing one tooth due to a dental extraction or a sports injury. If this is the case, we can often place a crown or bridge to replace the gap in your teeth as part of restorative dentistry practices. If the rest of your teeth are healthy and strong but you need one tooth removed, a bridge is an ideal solution. 

Other times, however, you may be more prone to tooth loss than average. This can occur if any of the following situations apply:

• Genetic conditions
• Dental cavities (also called dental caries)
• Gum disease
• Tooth decay

If the overall health of your mouth is subpar, you may be more likely to face premature tooth loss. Other conditions can also increase your risk of tooth loss, including smoking, poor nutrition, and health concerns such as diabetes or heart disease.

The dental implant process

If you decide to get dental implants, rest assured that your dentist has reviewed your health and determined you’re a good candidate for the procedure.

The first part of getting a dental implant is placing a titanium post in your jaw. You need to have adequate bone tissue for a bond to form between the post and your jawbone. If you do not have enough bone tissue, we can graft it using tissue from elsewhere in your body.

As your jawbone fuses to the titanium post, it creates a synthetic “root” structure for your implant. It usually takes 2-6 months for the post to fuse to your jaw tissue. At that point, we place a crown structure on the end of the post, which looks and functions just like a natural tooth.

While we’re waiting for the post to fuse to your jaw tissue, we usually place a temporary crown on top of it, so your smile still looks normal. Once we put the permanent crown on top of it, you have a fully functional tooth that looks and feels just like a natural tooth.

If you have missing teeth, it’s important to put something in their place. While dentures may seem to help your smile’s aesthetics, dental implants are by far the best option to prevent further bone loss and dental issues. To learn more, contact the providers today at Whole Body Dental or request an appointment online.