Many Americans – in fact, it’s estimated about 70% - are missing at least one tooth, most often one of the rear molars. The question often arises: if you can’t see the missing tooth, does it truly matter? The answer may surprise you.
Some effects of tooth loss
According to Nashville Dental Implant Specialist Dr. Mark Whitefield, if enough teeth are lost, the ability to speak and chew can be impaired. The contours of the face and lips change, making an individual look noticeably older and gloomier. Eventually, the bite may effectively collapse. And what it can do to a person’s self-image can be devastating!
Tooth loss leads to bone loss
You may or may not know that the biggest problem with tooth loss is actually the bone loss that comes with it. The alveolar bone, which surrounds the teeth, requires regular stimulation in order to stay healthy. Without such stimulation — which comes from tiny stresses transmitted by the teeth themselves — the bone gradually melts away. Tooth loss can cause a 25% decrease in bone width in the first year alone, and more in subsequent years. Fortunately, the implementation of dental implants is an effective way to keep tooth loss from becoming bone loss. But just what is a dental implant?
The Dental Implant
A tooth has two main parts: the dental crown (the pearly-white part everyone sees), and below the gum line, the root, the part that anchors the tooth in the jaw. A dental implant permanently replaces the root part of the tooth with a metal insert that’s placed in the jawbone with a minor procedure. A “crown restoration” is then placed atop the implant. That is a prosthetic tooth that’s created to look and function just like your natural teeth. Together, they create a complete tooth replacement system. That is the basis of a dental implant. Because the implant becomes fused to the living bone, it helps keep bone healthy and functional — all while saving your bite, your smile, and your self-esteem!
Whitefield Dental can help!
Talk to your Greater Nashville Dental Implant Specialist, Dr. Mark Whitefield to discuss saving your smile – and protecting the health of your teeth and gums – with dental implants. For more information, call Whitefield Dental at (615) 889-5545 today to schedule an appointment.
For information about special offers from Whitefield Dental, click the link here: www.dentisthermitagetn.com
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