How Dental Implants Can Address Tooth Loss

Tooth loss is a common occurrence among adults and children. Most individuals experience tooth loss at the onset of old age. This is because the muscles in the jaws weaken as an individual ages. In addition, poor oral hygiene and nutrition can lead to tooth decay, gum disease, gingivitis, and other illnesses which only aggravate tooth loss. Thankfully, with developing dental technologies, missing teeth can be replaced with dental implants that are as comfortable and efficient as natural teeth.

Many individuals postpone getting implants because of the expense. Unfortunately, missing teeth can disfigure smiles and impact overall oral health as well. If empty space where missing teeth should be situated is left vacant for too long, the adjacent teeth will start moving into that vacant space. As teeth from other parts of the arch start migrating to fill the vacant space, the patient is often left with a crooked smile.

Moreover, tooth loss can also affect speech. Missing teeth can lead to slurred speech as individuals begin to experience difficulty enunciating words. This can affect a patient’s level of confidence. Also, missing teeth can impact the function of the upper and lower molars, causing patients to experience difficulty with grinding and chewing food.

In the past, the dentist in Los Angeles fabricated bridges to counter tooth loss. The disadvantage to this approach was that adjacent teeth had to be filed and prepared to accommodate the dental bridge. Dental bridges are also less easy to keep clean, can feel unnatural in the mouth, and are impermanent (most have a lifespan of about ten years). Thankfully, new technologies like dental implants have been developed that are a great improvement from dental bridges.

Dental implants are placed on the vacant space by the dentist in Los Angeles. Once the implant has healed, the abutment is sealed and a fabricated crown is capped over the implant. Implants feel and look like natural teeth. Patients are able to speak, smile, and eat as they did before the onset of tooth loss. This can help restore confidence and self-esteem in patients.

Proper dental implants installed by the dentist in Los Angeles are also more comfortable than traditional dentures. Many elderly folks complain of not being able to chew their food properly with dentures, but with dental implants, they can eat all kinds of food with little discomfort.