How to Know When It’s Time for Dental Implants

Here are 6 instances where dental implants can help patients restore their smile.

Dental Implants Can Help:

1. Permanently Replace Missing Teeth

One of the most obvious reasons for a tooth replacement like dental implants is a missing tooth or multiple missing teeth. No matter how you lost them, it can be a source of shame and embarrassment in your life.

Our restorative dentists are here to help. A dental implant will be carefully placed in each available spot and is as strong and durable as a natural tooth. Dental implant care also only requires regular brushing and flossing so there is no need to stress over extensive maintenance.

2. Swap Out Dentures or Bridge

Both dentures or dental bridges are perfectly acceptable choices when faced with missing teeth. However, some patients change their minds and decide to choose a form of tooth replacement that is built to last for decades.

With dental implants, there is no need for periodic adjustments and no risk that they will become loose during the day. You can confidently eat or talk knowing they will always remain in place.

3. After a Tooth Extraction

Our dentists will always do whatever they can to save an infected tooth. Unfortunately, if the infection is too severe, we will need to perform a tooth extraction.

For obvious reasons, having a tooth pulled often gets people thinking about replacement options. If you want the feeling and function of a natural tooth, a dental implant is the ideal choice. The implant will fill in the new gap seamlessly and not look out of place in the slightest.

4. Prevent Sunken Facial Features

After teeth are lost, your jawbone tends to shrink and decline in mass due to a lack of stimulation. Bone loss over time can lead to a change in facial structure and cause an individual to look older than their true age.

While traditional dentures help replace missing teeth, they do not stimulate the jawbone as they sit on top of the gums. Dental implants are instead placed by our dentists into your jawbone which in turn prevents bone loss much like a natural tooth root would.

5. Patients Tired of Denture Adhesives and Care

It goes without saying that dentures serve a useful purpose. However, the care that they require isn’t always the most ideal or quickest.

Because dentures can sometimes slip, adhesive is often needed to keep them in place. The regular application of an adhesive is where it can get messy and outright inconvenient for many wearers. Implants, on the other hand, are embedded into your jawbone and are not in danger of shifting throughout the day.

Dentures also need to be removed and properly cleaned after eating to prevent plaque buildup or trapped food particles. Those who have dentures must be careful when brushing the appliance(s) to avoid damage and need to soak them overnight.

You can care for dental implants in the same way as you do your natural teeth: brush at least twice a day and floss daily. Regular dental checkups are also appreciated so our dentists can monitor your oral health.

6. Take the Place of a Broken or Cracked Tooth

A damaged tooth can be repaired with other restorative procedures but sometimes, the cracked or broken tooth is beyond the fix of a dental crown. Our dentists may decide that it is best to extract the remaining part of the tooth and place a dental implant.

If it is found that your tooth is broken below the gingival line or has resulted in damaged pulp, a tooth extraction may also be the option to pursue. Your oral health will greatly improve after having an implant placed thanks to its long-lasting durability and jawbone stimulation.

Invest in Your Smile With Dental Implants

If you want your old smile back, there’s no better time to take action and replace any lost teeth with one or more dental implants. Our highly experienced dentists in Cadillac, MI, are happy to go into detail about the procedure and help you determine if you’re a proper candidate. Call LifeSmiles Dentistry today at (231) 775-8281 to request an appointment.