Dental implants look and feel so much like natural teeth that you may forget you even have them. In fact, there are many ways in which they’re just like the real thing. If you’re wondering how they really measure up, here are three important ways that they’re similar to your biological teeth, and one important way they’re not.
They Stimulate Your Jaw
With natural teeth, your jawbone receives constant stimulation which helps keep it healthy and strong. Unfortunately, however, if you lose your teeth it can begin to deteriorate over time, eventually weakening so badly that you can lose even more. Worse yet, the longer you go without replacing them, the more damage it can cause, and the more likely it is that you will need a bone graft to restore your jaw. With dental implants, however, it receives the stimulation necessary to stay strong, so there’s less risk of degradation, and more protection for your remaining teeth.
They Improve Your Nutrition
When you’re missing teeth, it can be difficult to chew crunchy foods like nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables. This can make it harder for you to get the nutrients you need to support a healthy body, and this can eventually lead to malnutrition. When you replace them with dental implants, however, you can eat a wider range of foods, which means you’ll be less likely to be malnourished.
They Boost Your Self-Esteem
Noticeably missing teeth can make you embarrassed to show your smile to the world. This can hurt your self-esteem and make you feel isolated and depressed. Conversely, when you get dental implants, you are more likely to feel confident and be socially outgoing, which can help combat loneliness and boost your mood!
What they CAN’T do
Though they look and feel just like natural teeth, there is one thing that your dental implants simply cannot do: get cavities! That’s right. Though they may seem just like the real thing, because they are not biological, they cannot decay, become infected, or experience sensitivity. While you do still need to brush them and floss them to keep them clean and stop them from failing, they require no special care beyond what you normally would do for your real teeth.
Remember, dental implants are durable, beautiful prosthetics that emulate real teeth in many ways, but they’ll never get cavities, which is a very good thing indeed!
About Our Practice
At Frandsen Dental of Orem, we know that the appeal of dental implants is all the wonderful things they can do, and maybe one thing they can’t! If you’re looking for a natural looking, permanent, functional way to restore your smile, schedule an appointment with us for a consultation today! You can reach us via our website or give us a call at 801-224-7900.