The Importance Of Preventive Dental Care At Any Age

Posted on: 9 February 2015

When you laugh at a joke or huddle in for a group picture, the last thing you want to worry about is how your smile looks. Unfortunately, if you have missing teeth, it can be easy to feel self-conscious. To quickly remedy the problem, many people opt for partial removable bridges. However, that retainer-like device might not be the best solution. Here are three reasons to get dental implants instead, and why you won't regret your decision later:

1: Preserve Bone

Have you ever wondered why you can tell if someone is missing teeth, even when their mouth is closed? Most people don't realize it, but bone stays strong by being subjected to resistance. Working out your muscles keeps your skeleton strong and rigid, and the same concept holds true with your jaw.

Your teeth are held in place by small ligaments, which are anchored to your jawbone. As you chew your food, this impact strengthens your jaw and keeps it healthy. Unfortunately, when your teeth fall out, your jaw can become atrophied. In fact, your actual jawbone will start to melt away and your body will reabsorb the tissue. When your jaw shape changes, it can actually alter your face shape, making you look like a different person.

Fortunately, you can preserve your jawbone by having dental implants placed. Unlike removable bridges, which are mainly a quick cosmetic fix, dental implants are anchored into your jaw like your natural teeth. Over time, dental anchors even fuse with your bone, keeping the area strong. If you are concerned about maintaining the health of your entire mouth, dental implants are the only way to go.    

2: Aesthetics

In addition to keeping your bone healthier, dental implants also tend to look a lot better. Since each dental implant will be placed individually through your gums and into your jaw, you won't have to worry about plastic retainers covering the roof of your mouth or those temporary teeth popping out. Here are a few other reasons that dental implants look so much better than other replacements:

• Gumline: Many dental appliances are made from porcelain fused to metal, which give your teeth a dark, unnatural sheen; especially near the gumline. However, newer dental implants are made from ceramic materials that will make your gumline look beautiful, pink, and natural. 
• Color: Nobody wants a smile that looks artificial. However, dental lab artists can adjust dental implant colors to match your existing teeth perfectly.
• Shape: After your dentist takes a mold of your old teeth, implants can be milled to fit each spot. Implants can even be placed to mimic crooked teeth, if you don't want to alter your original smile.  
• Quirks: Everyone's teeth are different, and you might be worried about your implant looking a little pre-packaged. Fortunately, lab technicians can even adjust your implant to include small characteristics like tiny chips and cracks.  

Talk with your dentist about how you want your new teeth to look. If you are worried about the process, ask your dentist if you can see pictures of his or her previous work. You might be surprised with how beautiful and natural dental implants can look.  

3: Durability

After spending hours at the dentist's office, the last thing you probably want to do is repeat the process a few years down the road. Unfortunately, if you opt for a partial bridge, you might find yourself in that exact situation 5-7 years later. If you end up working with another dentist or a different lab, your teeth could end up looking completely different overnight.

However, because dental implants are implanted into your actual jaw, they tend to be a lot more durable. With proper care, dental implants can even last a lifetime. Instead of getting used to a new appliance every few years, you can kick back, relax, and enjoy your beautiful smile.  

For more information, go to sites of local dental clinics or talk to your dentist.