The Proven Dental Procedure for Replacing Missing Teeth

If you are missing teeth, dental implants are one of the best ways to restore your smile. These prosthetics do not just improve the appearance of your smile, they also help to keep the bones and tissue of your jaw in good condition.

Dental implants also replace damaged tooth roots that are essential for healthy jaw bone structure.

Why missing teeth are bad for you

Your teeth are one of the first things people notice about you. When they are in poor condition, you are more likely to be self-conscious about the way you look. You might find yourself reluctant to smile for pictures or have conversations with strangers since you constantly worry about receiving judgment.

People tend to make assumptions about who you are by the first impression after meeting you. Those with healthy looking teeth are perceived as attractive, successful, and younger, while does with missing teeth or an otherwise damaged smile are often viewed as older, unattractive, and unsuccessful.

First impressions are an important part of social interactions, so you want to present the best version of yourself at all times.

That’s not the only reason why it’s essential to have missing teeth replaced.

Your mouth works in conjunction with all your teeth, so when one goes missing, all the others around it start to move towards the gap in an attempt to fill it. This process will leave you with crooked and misaligned teeth to go with your gap. Then, there is the bone deterioration that occurs when you lose a tooth and its root. Over time, this will have you looking older and make your facial structures appear droopy.

How are implants fitted in your mouth?

Dental implants consist of a rod that we connect to your jawbone. This rod typically consists of titanium but can consist of other materials like zirconia. The rod then takes time to fuse with your jawbone. This can take up to 6 months. Once the implant fully heals, we will fit a crown on the external-facing end.

We might schedule a follow-up appointment to see how you're adjusting to your new implants.

Benefits of choosing implants over other options

While it is possible to replace missing teeth with dentures or dental bridges, these come with tiresome maintenance requirements and can make mundane tasks like talking and chewing difficult. That reason by itself is good enough to choose implants over dentures. There is also the fact that these alternatives do not address the bone loss associated with missing teeth.

With implants, there are no complicated cleaning procedures. You simply take care of your mouth like you normally do. Brush twice daily, use a quality mouthwash, and floss once a day. Keep in mind that despite the fact the ceramics or porcelain in your dental crown is rather durable, it is not as strong as your real teeth. It is best to avoid chewing on hard things and grinding your teeth.

For more information on options for replacing missing teeth or to schedule an appointment with Oak Tree Dental, request an appointment in our McLean dental office here: https://www.oaktreefamilydental.com. Or call us at (703) 763-5239.