Dental Implants: More Than Aesthetic Benefits

Today you can see ads for dental implants in every magazine and all over TV and the internet. They are a newer choice for people with missing teeth. At Supertooth in Bethesda, Gaithersburg, & Germantown, Maryland our team can offer you strong, permanent implants to replace your missing or failing teeth.

An implant is basically a two-part system. Our team inserts a titanium post into your jaw to anchor the implant. After the bone heals around the post, he creates a crown, or series of crowns to fill in the gaps left by the teeth that are gone. Let’s take a look at some reasons you should consider dental implants.

1. Implants protect your bones

Bones are very much a use-them-or-lose-them proposition. We all know the benefit of exercise on the health and strength of our other bones. So it comes as no surprise that your jawbone needs exercise as well. 

Dentures sit on top of the gums with no direct connection to the bone. That’s why denture users may lose up to half a millimeter of bone per year. It may not sound like much, but over time it really adds up. So denture-wearers must go back every few years and have dentures re-fit to shrinking bone mass.

But the titanium post of a dental implant acts just like the root of the natural tooth. The bone grows around and secures the post, protecting your bone mass for the rest of your life.

2. Implants are permanent

Unlike dentures or removable bridges, you don’t have to remove dental implants for cleaning and disinfection. The teeth are permanently affixed to your jaw. Dentures are notorious for slipping while you eat or talk. Removable bridges rely on nearby teeth to hold the bridge in place, putting strain on these teeth that may cause them to fail later.

Dental implants stand alone. They won’t slip while you eat, and you don’t have to take them out at night. So you have your own permanent smile 24/7.

3. Implants look natural

Men and women with missing teeth tend to hide their smiles because they don’t like how they look. Depending on the skill of the dentist or denturist and the quality of the false teeth, dentures often don’t look natural. The hard plastic gumline is a dead giveaway. The dentures themselves are often molded out of one continuous piece of material with no spacing between like natural teeth.

But dental implants are designed to look just like natural teeth. The titanium post goes right through the gumline, so you have no plastic-looking fake gums. Our team chooses material for the crown that matches the color of the rest of your teeth, so only you know which is the artificial tooth.

4. Implants are easy to maintain

Dentures require a lot of extra care. You need special pastes for cleaning to protect the more delicate material. You also need to soak them to remove stains every week. Finally, you need a paste, gel, or strip to hold the dentures in place on your gums. That’s a lot of extra work — not to mention the additional expense over time of all those different products.

You care for the implants in the same manner you care for your natural teeth. You brush and floss the implants with the same care you exercise for your natural teeth. You even use the same toothpaste. If a crown chips or breaks due to an accident, we can make you a new crown to fit over the same titanium post.

5. Implants are flexible

Whether you need one tooth or a whole mouthful, we can replace any or all missing teeth with dental implants. We can affix single teeth to individual posts or attach a series of teeth or even a full set to several screws inserted into your jaw. It just depends on your dental needs.

If you are wondering if implants might be right for you, wonder no longer. Pick up the phone and call Supertooth to set up a consultation, or book your appointment online to learn about your implant options and how quickly we can give you a healthy, beautiful smile.