It is estimated that 178 million Americans are missing at least one tooth. This is typically caused by periodontal disease, tooth decay, or injury. The problem gets worse as we get older, as 30 percent of adults between 65-74 years of age have no natural teeth.
Here at Signature Smiles, our team offers great cosmetic dentistry services to treat missing teeth. The two main procedures that we use are dentures and dental implants.
In the past, the only treatment options for missing teeth were bridges and dentures. Both are effective, but as long as the patient has a healthy jaw and gums, we typically recommend getting dental implants because of the many advantages they have over bridges and dentures. Let’s take a look at a few of them:
Dental Implants Are More Convenient
Dental implants look and feel like natural teeth. They fuse with bone, thus becoming permanent. Dentures, on the other hand, lack permanent anchorage and are removable. In order to stay in place, messy adhesives are needed. Because dentures are removable, it is necessary to take them out of your mouth to clean.
Dental implants eliminate this embarrassing inconvenience because there is no need to remove them, nor are there any special steps needed when cleaning. You clean them the same way you do your natural teeth.
Dentures sometimes cause teeth to slip within the mouth. This can affect speech and the ability to enunciate well. Wearers of dentures sometimes have issues with mumbling or slurring their words. However, because dental implants are permanent, there is no risk of slippage or movement within the mouth.
Dental Implants Allow for Better Chewing
As mentioned earlier, due to a lack of permanent anchorage, dentures can move and slip within the mouth. This not only can affect speech, but chewing ability as well. When teeth are constantly moving or slipping, chewing becomes a difficult and challenging task. When food is not properly chewed and broken down, digestive issues may arise.
Dental implants function like your own teeth and are permanently anchored, enabling proper biting and chewing. You can eat your favorite foods with confidence and free of discomfort. In addition, food is properly broken down, thus contributing to better digestion.
Whether you are looking to get dentures or dental implants, our dentists are ready to meet all of your cosmetic dentistry needs. Contact us today to set up an appointment.
