Dental implants are quickly becoming one of the most common tooth replacement options, but it’s important to know the right time to consider them. There are several factors that may indicate it’s time to talk to your dentist about dental implants. Dr. Brenda Paulen is a Sandy Springs, GA dentist who helps patients make the best decision for their oral health.
1. You are missing one or more of your natural teeth.
Having gaps in your smile where you are missing teeth can be embarrassing and make you self-conscious about smiling, talking or eating in public. The implant will fill in the space where your natural tooth was once located. It will look and feel just like your natural teeth too.
2. You are starting to experience bone loss (in the jaw area).
Do you know that dental implants can actually aid in the prevention of bone loss in your jaw? It’s true. You see, the part of the implant that gets placed in the socket of the jawbone and acts as the artificial tooth root is made of titanium or zirconium. These materials naturally bond to the bone tissue. The bonding process is called osseointegration, which enables the implant roots to stimulate jaw bone growth just like the natural tooth roots would, lessening the chance of the bone deteriorating over time.
3. You have loose-fitting partials or a loose-fitting denture.
Loose-fitting dentures or partials can be frustrating to deal with on a daily basis. Implants are an excellent alternative to dentures and partials. You no longer have to worry about your dentures becoming loose throughout the day or feeling self-conscious that your dentures will fall out in public while talking or eating.
4. You have a severely cracked tooth or a broken tooth.
If you have a cracked or broken tooth, a dental crown or a dental implant may be your only options. While dentists usually want to save as much of the tooth structure as possible, if the tooth is damaged beyond repair, the best option might be a tooth extraction and an implant to replace the problem tooth. If an implant is needed, rest assured, it will look and function just like your natural teeth.
5. You have a tooth that cannot be saved.
Sometimes a severely decayed or infected tooth cannot be saved or fixed. Your dentist will make this determination after a thorough examination. If the problem tooth cannot be repaired or fixed, you may need to get it extracted. In this case a dental implant might be the best option to replace it as implants look and feel like your natural teeth
6. You have a sunken-in look to your facial appearance.
Did you ever notice the sunken-in or caved-in look that some denture-wearers have on a daily basis? Unfortunately, this is a common problem for patients with patients who wear dentures due to bone loss as you grow older. Since dentures do not stimulate bone growth as implants do, the bone continues to deteriorate over time, resulting in the sunken-in, caved-in appearance. Dental implants solve this problem by stimulating bone growth in the jaw around the implant.
Dental Implants in Sandy Springs, GA
Live in or near Sandy Springs, GA? Call Proud Smiles Dental for an implant consultation with Dr. Paulen or schedule with us online. We look forward to helping you restore your smile!