The benefits of replacing missing teeth with dental implants

Tooth loss affects so much more than just the appearance of your smile. When you are missing teeth, it can have a negative impact on your ability to speak and chew your food properly, as well as your oral health – not to mention your self-confidence. At Inspiration Dental inRiverview, Florida, our goal is to provide a wide variety of options to meet our patients’ diverse needs, including tooth replacement options. When considering their choices for replacing missing teeth, many of our patients choose dental implants because of their versatility and benefits.

What are dental implants, and how do they work?

A natural tooth has two main components: the crown that you see above the surface of the gums and the root that holds the tooth firmly in place in your jaw. While other tooth replacement options such as bridges and dentures replace only the crown of the tooth, dental implants replace both the root and the crown. The dental implant is a small screw-shaped rod that is surgically placed in the jawbone. As it heals, it undergoes a process called osseointegration in which the bone and the implant fuse together to form one stable unit. After the implant has healed and a connecting abutment or attachment is placed, the implant is then topped with a dental restoration made from durable, natural-looking materials, so no one will ever know that you’ve had a tooth replaced.

Actual Patient Results

The way that dental implants mimic natural tooth roots offer many advantages for patients in terms of both function and oral health because the implants:

• Are held firmly in place, which means you can keep enjoying all of your favorite foods without worrying about them slipping or falling out of place
• Do not require any special oral health care beyond regular brushing and flossing and routine visits to the dentist for professional cleanings and check-ups
• Stimulate the underlying jawbone, which helps prevent bone deterioration that naturally occurs after tooth loss
• Do not require the alteration of healthy tooth structure on the adjacent teeth
• It can be used with a variety of dental restorations, from a single dental crown to a bridge or denture that replaces multiple missing teeth. In fact, as little as four dental implants can be used to secure a full denture in place!

Tooth replacement options for your lifestyle and budget

At Inspiration Dental, we believe that your dental care experience should be custom-tailored to your unique oral health situation, treatment preferences, and budgetary goals. Dr. Janis Milne will take the time to talk with you about your options after a thorough evaluation and consultation and is always happy to answer any questions that you have so you can be completely confident in your path towards a healthy, restored smile. To schedule your consultation and learn more about which tooth replacement options are a good fit for your needs, call Inspiration Dental today! Our Riverview, FL office can be reached at (813) 638-0313, or you can request an appointment online.