Good oral hygiene significantly impacts an individual’s personal and professional life. Brushing, flossing, and regular visits to your Okemos dentist are all essential to attain and maintain optimal dental health.
Your teeth are one of the first things people notice when they interact with you. A single missing tooth can ruin your smile, upset your facial balance, and can negatively impact your ability to form relationships at work or in social settings.
Consequences Of Missing Tooth (Or Teeth)
Missing teeth isn’t just a cosmetic issue. Missing teeth can make it difficult for you to chew and eat certain foods, limit your menu options and lead to nutritional deficiencies.
A missing tooth (or teeth) is the leading cause of jaw bone loss. Teeth help to stimulate and support the bone of the jaw. If you are missing teeth, the bone that once supported them is no longer stimulated.
A missing tooth can cause neighboring teeth to drift out of their ideal position. Such drifting not only affects that particular arch but can cause the upper and lower teeth to become misaligned.
Bone loss resulting from missing teeth can cause excess wrinkles around the mouth, thinning lips, and a more pointed chin, and make an individual look a lot older than their true age.
Gaps due to missing teeth can act as a trap for food and bacteria and can lead to gum disease.
Missing teeth can make it difficult to pronounce certain words, and can also cause slurring, whistling or even spitting when speaking.
Why Dental Implants Are The Best Option For Replacing Missing Teeth
Thanks to advancements in modern dentistry, tooth replacement options are less invasive and more effective than in the past.
If one or more of your teeth are missing or have been severely compromised due to improper hygiene, tooth decay, periodontal infections, or trauma, Schaefer Dental Group utilizes the latest techniques and technology in dentistry to provide dental implants that will ultimately restore your smile and dental health. Dental implants provide remarkable long-term value and are an excellent investment in long-term oral health.
A dental implant is a titanium post that is placed in the jaw and acts as an artificial tooth root to which a crown, dental bridge, or a denture is attached. Titanium dental implants are biocompatible, which means that they easily integrate with the jawbone and are accepted by the body.
There are three major dental implant stages that every patient goes through. The entire process can take between six to nine months in total. They include:
Pre-surgical Assessment
Pre-surgical appointments with our various in-house specialists to assess a patient’s candidacy for dental implants.
Surgery
The surgery takes place in three stages:
Placement of the implant
A specialist will place a dental implant into your jawbone beneath the gum tissue. The gum tissue is then stitched back into place. As the tissue heals, the implant will bond with the bone and attach itself to the gum. It can take three to six months to heal.
Attaching the abutment
Once the tissue is healed, the specialist will attach an abutment to the implant. An abutment is a post that connects the replacement tooth to the implant.
Fitting the crown
An artificial replacement tooth or crown is made and your dentist or specialist attaches it to the abutment.
Recovery And Protection
Most patients experience some bruising, swelling, and localized pain after the surgery. However, it doesn’t require more than over-the-counter medications such as Ibuprofen or Tylenol.
Just like natural teeth, implants require to be kept clean using a toothbrush and floss. Your dentist will show you the proper cleaning procedure for implants. Avoiding things like hard candy, tobacco, and caffeine can also help.
In very few cases, the implant may not be successful because it didn’t bond to the bone.
Periodic dental check-ups are important to ensure that your bite is right and that your implants are not loose.
Benefits Of Dental Implants
Implanted teeth offer you the same chewing power as that of natural teeth and also similar look, feel and function. Implants do not require any alteration to the structure of adjacent teeth. Implants also protect against bone loss by providing healthy stimulation of the jaw.
Dental Implants can prevent facial sagging and premature aging, and keep you free of gum disease.
State-Of-The-Art Dental Implant Treatment In Okemos, MI
If you are looking for dental implants in Okemos, MI, the dental experts at Schaefer Dental Group may be able to replace your missing teeth and restore the health of your teeth, gums, and jaw joints to give you an improved quality of life.
At Schaefer Dental Group, we are specialists in restoring and replacing teeth. We use the most advanced technology and high-quality materials and products to deliver incredible dental implantation results.
Contact us to schedule an appointment with a dentist in Okemos today.
