A Friendly Reminder to Talk to Your Dentist About Dental Implants

If you have lost one or more teeth, your dentist has probably mentioned dental implants as a way to recomplete your smile. It’s understandable if you decided to hold off on the treatment — after all, the cost of dental implants may seem quite high. But they are worth the investment! Let’s talk about some reasons why you should seriously consider moving forward with this remarkable tooth replacement solution.

The Consequences of Missing Teeth

If you have lost just one or two teeth, you might not notice any big differences in the way your mouth functions. Over time, though, even a single lost tooth can lead to serious consequences. You may experience bone loss in your jaw. The teeth next to an empty space may also drift out of place, contributing to a misaligned bite. A dental implant stimulates the jawbone and helps to keep all of your natural teeth where they belong.

Quality of Life Considerations

Lost teeth can adversely affect your ability to chew foods. Depending on where in the mouth the teeth came from, you might also notice that your pronunciation changes. You may even feel a little self-conscious about your smile. Dental implants (along with their restorations) address all of these issues. They provide natural chewing function, and they look and feel just like real teeth.

Downsides of Dental Bridges

Many patients choose to get a traditional bridge to replace a lost tooth. Certainly, a bridge is a reliable prosthetic that has many advantages. However, placing it requires that your dentist significantly alters the teeth next to the empty space. This is necessary so the teeth fit well beneath the bridge. A dental implant is self-supporting and can allow all of your remaining natural teeth to stay intact.

Value Over Price

Even though dental implants present a significant upfront cost, they offer an excellent value. In fact, they may actually be able to save you money in the long run. They have the potential to last a lifetime, where other forms of tooth replacement may fail after just 5 – 10 years. When you calculate how much dental implants cost per day over the course of a few decades, they may end up being cheaper than a daily latte at your favorite coffee shop!

Act Sooner Rather than Later

You might be able to get dental implants at any time, but acting sooner rather than later would be the wisest course of action. If you delay for too long, your jawbone will continue to deteriorate, which increases the chance that you will need a bone graft or other preparatory procedure to qualify for them.

Has your dentist told you that you should get dental implants? Accepting their recommendation can provide you with decades of healthy and strong smiles!

Meet the Practice

Dr. Darrick Castleberry is an experienced dentist and a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. He proudly offers comprehensive dental implant services. If you have questions about how you can replace your missing teeth, he would be pleased to talk with you. Contact our office at 281-320-9600.