3 Reasons Why Dental Implants are a Great Choice for Cosmetic Benefit
Most people see dental implants as a restorative measure – if you have a lost or missing tooth, or need a tooth extraction, a dental implant supplies a new, faux tooth so you can keep up bite function and good oral health.
However, few people consider the aesthetic risks associated with missing teeth that go beyond a simple gap in your smile. Check out the following reasons why getting a dental implant is a great cosmetic choice for improved overall facial appearance:
1.) Shifting Teeth: When you lose a tooth, your existing teeth notice the new gap in your smile and think they have more room to spread out. This means they can shift into this new space, throwing off their previously even alignment. By getting a dental implant you're making sure that your other teeth remain in line, so your whole smile is saved.
2.) Shrinking Bone: Losing an entire tooth – roots and crown – has a negative impact on important mouth structures below your gum line. Your organic tooth root stimulates bone in your jaw to help it stay dense and strong. Without that root to do its work, the volume of bone in your jaw diminishes, leaving your face looking sunken-in and prematurely aged. The good news is that a dental implant supplies your jaw with a prosthetic tooth root, so you don’t have to deal with the negative impact of bone loss. In fact, dental implants are the only tooth replacement option that does this!
3.) Altering Healthy Teeth or Tissues: If you want to replace a missing tooth, you shouldn’t have to do anything to your existing, healthy teeth to get what you want. Unfortunately, most traditional tooth replacement methods do exactly that. When you get a fixed bridge, your replacement tooth is sandwiched between two crowns that have to be placed on top of the teeth surrounding the gap in your smile, and they have to be buffed down to accept the crown. If you’re experiencing multiple missing teeth and opt for dentures, this removable appliance has to rest on the gums, rubbing and slipping on this tissue all day long, which can lean to gum shrinkage and make your dental appliance loose over time. Dental implants are self-sufficient teeth replacements that do not lean on healthy mouth structures do to their jobs well. They can replace one tooth, and can even make your dentures permanent and stable by acting as anchors.
Dr. O’Connor has been placing and restoring dental implants for over 20 years – helping his St. Louis patients to beautiful smiles. Because dental implants support both oral health and bone health, he is proud to offer them as a truly beneficial dental treatment for patients who are missing teeth. As a St. Louis dental implant expert, Dr. O’Connor has spent time studying the best ways to support fast wound healing after implant placement surgery, as well as bone graft placement to help ensure the most safe and stable results. For his excellence in the field, Dr. O’Connor has earned a Fellowship in the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.
If you are missing teeth and are looking for the best way to get a beautiful smile, Dr. O’Connor is happy to discuss your options for dental implants at his St. Louis dental office. Contact us today for more information!