Tooth loss is never easy. Waiting too long to get dental implants can make the process much harder on you and your remaining teeth.
Once you’ve lost a tooth, your mouth begins to adapt immediately. Prolonging your dental implant procedure can spell trouble for your future oral health and smile. Here’s why it’s better to schedule a dental implant now instead of putting it off.
Tooth Loss Causes Your Teeth to Shift
Losing a tooth leaves a gap in your mouth. Your remaining teeth automatically begin to adjust, shifting to fill that gap. Unfortunately, this organic movement can leave you with crooked teeth, causing separate problems.
Shifted and crooked teeth often contain small pockets of space in between them that harbor bacteria and plaque. Their placement makes it difficult for brushing and flossing to properly clean your mouth.
You’re more susceptible to cavities and gum disease once your teeth have shifted in this way. Dental implants fill the gap immediately to keep everything aligned properly.
Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late to Protect Your Jawbone
Leaving gaps from missing teeth can harm your jaw health in the long run.
Your jawbone relies on your teeth to maintain a healthy amount of bone mass throughout your life. Tooth loss can ultimately cause jawbone loss, which leads to other oral and facial problems that are expensive to deal with.
Dental implants preserve jawbone mass, thanks to their permanent positioning in the bone. Unlike dentures and bridges, implants actually grow into your jawbone the same way a tooth root would. This prevents unhealthy bone loss while keeping your smile intact.
Waiting only increases the risk of permanent jaw damage so it’s important to take action immediately to save your jawbone and protect your oral health for years to come.
Temporary Solutions Won’t Cut It and Why You Need a Dental Implant Now
If you’ve dealt with tooth loss, you’ve probably learned about dentures and other surface-level solutions for your smile.
Dentures can be challenging to work with and adjust to in your daily life. For example, many people experience denture slippage and trapped food while eating.
If your dentures don’t fit properly, they can cause pain and even leave sores in your mouth. You must also clean them regularly to maintain their appearance.
Dental bridges are another common solution to tooth loss, but they’re not always the best option. They can cause wear and tear on the supporting teeth that hold up the bridge.
Compared to dental implants, bridges don’t last as long, so they need more replacements.
Dental implants don’t come with the same inconveniences and complications that temporary dental fixtures do. They can last for the rest of your life if you take proper care of them.
Since implant posts grow into your jawbone, you’d only ever have to worry about maintaining the crowns of each implant (the top part). Crowns still last for up to 15 years, making dental implants the more economical and convenient choice.
Waiting on Dental Implants Makes Eating and Speaking Harder
Adjusting to fixtures like dentures can make eating and talking much harder. Some people find it difficult to pronounce certain words or hold long conversations with dentures in, since they can move around.
Eating with dentures comes with similar difficulties. Dental implants, however, are permanent fixtures in your mouth. They don’t move around while you talk or eat, and you can’t remove them at home.
Many patients find that dental implants feel more natural and comfortable in their mouths. In the long run, your comfort is what matters most. Dental implants are the closest you can get to natural tooth replacement.
Stop Hiding Your Smile and Get a Dental Implant Before It’s Too Late
Dental implants are designed to mimic the function and appearance of real teeth. Since tooth loss can cause shifting and misalignment, the sooner you get your implants, the better.
Whether you’ve had braces before or not, you probably want to keep your smile relatively straight and well-shaped. Tooth loss can get in the way of that — unless you get dental implants.
Your smile is the world’s first impression of you. It’s the first thing you notice in pictures or in the mirror. You deserve to be happy with your smile, and implants can help boost your self-esteem after major tooth loss.
When you look great, you feel great, and vice versa. Allow dental implants to increase your confidence and correct the gaps left behind by past tooth loss.
Get Dental Implants Soon: Visit Dr. Brett Langston for a Consultation
Are you missing teeth and ready to correct your smile so you can enjoy a healthy, beautiful mouth for years to come? Don’t wait another day for treatment. Dr. Brett Langston can help you on your oral health journey.
We help each patient decide whether dental implants are the right choice for them. Time is of the essence when you have missing teeth. Book a consultation at our dental office today!
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