People lose teeth for multiple reasons, such as injury, tooth decay or gum disease. For people who have lost one or more teeth, dental implants are available replacement options. Here are two ways that dental implants can benefit a person who has missing teeth:

Appearance

The way you look affects the way that you feel. Missing teeth can leave you feeling uncomfortable about your appearance.

Once a tooth is lost, it no longer provides support to the overlying cheek and soft tissues of the face. As a result, the face can take on a hollow or sunken appearance that makes you look worn or older.

In addition, once the implants are in place, there won't be unsightly spaces and gaps in your smile. These imperfections may make you hesitant to laugh and enjoy life. Many people who are uncomfortable with the appearance of their teeth cover their mouth when they smile or laugh. This can appear to others as though you are unsure of yourself.

Once a dental implant is surgically installed into your jawbone, it heals in about two to four months through a process called osseointegration. The implant screw that was inserted serves as the root of your prosthetic tooth. After osseointegration, a dental crown is placed.

The crown is designed from a mold of your teeth so that it fits your mouth perfectly. In addition, the crown is matched to the color of your teeth, and if a porcelain crown or porcelain-over-metal crown is selected, the prosthetic crown will even match the translucency of a natural tooth. Your appearance is fully restored.

Confident Speech

If you have a tooth-replacement device that regularly slips out of position, such as a denture, you may not feel comfortable speaking in public. Trying to hold the appliance in place can cause your speech to be slurred or otherwise distorted.

If you are concerned that your speech cannot be corrected by implants because you have to many missing teeth, don't worry. If you have a large number of teeth missing, your dentist may install several dental implants as anchoring supports for a denture or dental bridge to prevent the appliance from slipping as you speak.

A special type of denture called an overdenture includes an attachment mechanism on the underside of the appliance that can connect to underlying dental implants to prevent the device from moving about as you eat or speak. However, the device can still detach for regular cleaning.

For dental bridges, implants can serve in the place of natural teeth. Bridge crowns can be affixed to the dental implants to hold the appliance in place.

If you are interested in receiving dental implants, schedule an appointment with a dentist such as Colerain Denture Center.

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