Until relatively recently, there weren’t too many options for tooth replacement if you lost a permanent tooth. For a long time, bridges and dentures were the only way to restore your smile to its normal appearance, but both treatments require a lot of maintenance and don’t provide the same functionality as natural teeth.
Dental implants are a long-lasting, modern solution for restoring lost teeth that preserve your oral health while also feeling and functioning like healthy, natural teeth. Dr. Vernon Sheen is a leading implant and cosmetic dentist in Annapolis, MD who has many years of experience helping patients restore their smile and confidence.
1. Implants last a lifetime
Because they have titanium roots and are surgically embedded in the jawbone, with proper care and careful use, dental implants can last for decades. The crown — the false tooth mounted atop the implant for use chewing — may need to be replaced due to normal wear and tear, but the titanium implant screw itself can last for decades. You should visit Dr. Sheen or your area dentist regularly to have your implant inspected for proper functioning.
2. Dental implants keep your jawbone healthy
Although replacing missing teeth may seem like “just” a cosmetic concern, it’s really much more important than that. Allowing a space where you have lost a tooth to remain empty in your jaw can actually cause the bone tissue underneath to deteriorate. This could potentially place your neighboring teeth at risk for moving. It can also lead to even more complicated dental problems such as an uneven bite and regression of your mouth, changing the entire look of your face.
Dental implants replace missing teeth from the roots up, which helps the surrounding tissues stay healthy and keeps your teeth in their proper place.
3. Implants protect healthy teeth
In addition to helping your jawbone stay healthy, dental implants are beneficial for the teeth surrounding the missing tooth. Dental bridges, which are an older method of tooth replacement, require the surrounding teeth to be stripped of enamel for crowning to serve as an anchor for the bridge. Implants are embedded directly in the empty spot in the jawbone and do not need to be anchored by other teeth. With dental implants, only the spot that needs a replacement tooth is altered.
4. Implants feel and function like natural teeth
Dental implants require no special cleaning or care by their recipients. Dentures, however, must be removed for cleaning and cemented into the mouth with messy adhesives. While bridges require careful flossing in order to clean under and around them. But dental implants can be brushed and flossed just as you would with your natural teeth and are never removed unless damaged.
Dental Implants in Annapolis, MD
Implants are a long-term investment in not just a beautiful smile but also your oral health. Dr. Sheen’s dental practice in Annapolis is focused on the long term maintenance of a comfortable, functional smile that provides the patient confidence and the best possible quality of life. Call (443) 482-5202 to schedule your consultation or contact us online to start restoring your smile and confidence today.