If you or a loved one are missing one or more teeth, odds are you have already heard about dental implants.
An incredibly versatile treatment, dental implants can complete nearly any smile whether a single tooth is lost or every tooth needs replacing. This is quickly making dental implants a leader in restorative dentistry and may even become the industry standard in the future.
But many may ask themselves why. Why are dental implants becoming so popular? What separates them from more traditional dentistry options like dentures or bridges?
In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at modern dental implants and see how they are setting themselves so far apart from the competition.
Dental Implants: An Ancient Idea Finally Realized
Like all disciplines of medicine, dentistry’s origins are surprisingly old.
In fact, some of the earliest attempts for dental implants can be found in Egypt around the year 2500 BCE where golden wires were used to support damaged teeth. By the year 500 BCE, other cultures were attempting to replace missing teeth with other appliances and even fashioned false teeth out of animal bone.
While a lot has changed from these early attempts at a dental implant, the main purpose and idea were the same: to restore dental health with new teeth.
It wasn’t until the 1940s that medicine advanced far enough to create the foundations of modern dental implants. Why? Dental implants aren’t just about replacing a missing tooth: it is about restoring all the functions of a tooth as well.
The Many, Many Functions Teeth Perform
When it comes to our teeth, we often only think about the tasks that take conscious or noticeable effort like chewing or smiling. However, our mouths are an incredibly complex combination of hard and soft tissue, designed to perform many different functions to improve our health.
Here are just a few examples of some of the very vital tasks our teeth perform:
- They provide stimulation to the alveolar bone to prevent a process called resorption, which can cause a jawbone to deteriorate.
- The enamel of our teeth is much more resistant to harmful bacteria than our mouth’s soft tissue (like gums), making them the first line of defense against periodontal infections.
- Teeth help with the proper exercise of the mastication muscles (the muscles around our jaws that help us chew) and keeping them strong helps our facial muscles from softening, becoming slack, or sagging.
Because of all these marvelous things, missing teeth pose a much bigger problem than just a gap or a self-conscious smile.
Dental Implants: More than False Teeth
Now that we have a better understanding of just how crucial our teeth are to not only our oral health but overall well-being, the benefits of dental implants really shine. You see when dental implants are affixed to your jaw, it simulates a tooth’s roots.
This allows a more complete restoration of your dental care. Providing the proper stimulation to your jawbone and facial muscles, as well as offering increased protection to your mouth’s soft tissue, dental implants are much more than just false teeth. With dental implants, you can once again:
- Chew comfortably
- Smile confidently
- Speak clearly
- Prevent and even reverse bone loss
- Get better protection against tooth discoloration and dental decay
What’s even more impressive about dental implants is they do all of these things without needing any more maintenance than your original teeth. That’s right! Dental implants can be cared for by brushing, flossing, and routine checkups like your natural teeth.
Schedule Your Dental Implant Consultation Today
Your friends at Fairchance Dental Arts are waiting to hear from you! If you or a loved one are a resident of Fairchance, PA, and are looking to restore your smile, don’t wait another day. Contact our office and schedule your dental implant consultation.
Complete your smile with our beautiful dental implants and enjoy all the benefits that come with them. Schedule an appointment with Fairchance Dental Arts today by contacting our office. We are available by phone, via email, or you can book an appointment online.
