The benefits of dental implants

May 22, 2014, 3:44 am

Did you know that the simple act of smiling can boost your mood, even when you’re feeling crummy? It’s true! Plus, smiling can be contagious. When a person smiles, others can’t help but smile as well. Unfortunately, for those who have undergone trauma to the mouth or have suffered from dental or mouth disease, smiling may not come so easily, especially for those with teeth that are severely damaged or missing. If you find yourself hiding behind your hand when you smile, or clamping your lips shut to prevent anyone from seeing your teeth, then dental implants may be your solution. Dental implants have the ability to restore your smile so you can smile openly and with confidence.

Dental implants offer restoration and preservation and reduce mouth trauma

One of the largest benefits of dental implants is their ability to restore your smile. Traditional methods of dental restoration such as bridgework often require involvement of the teeth on either side of the tooth being replaced. Placing a bridge often requires shaving down portions of the adjacent teeth to make room for the bridge and to affix the bridge in place. This process can be traumatic to these teeth, and may cause future loss of dental material and tissue in the mouth. Because dental implants are not affixed to the adjacent teeth, the health of those teeth can be preserved, and additional trauma to the mouth is minimized.

Dental implants are long-lasting

Unlike crowns and other restorative materials, dental implants are long-lasting and are associated with a much lower risk of cracking, breaking, or falling off. Dental implants are stronger than crowns, and are fixed in place to the underlying bone while a crown is affixed only to existing tooth material. This durability not only means that your dental implants will have a long life, but also that you can eat a wider array of foods with confidence.

Dental implants improve overall oral health

Once a dental implant is in place, your overall oral health will be significantly improved long-term when compared other interventions. A single dental implant helps preserve the health of surrounding teeth, and reduces risk of damage or deterioration of the jawbone. Because dental implants last longer and have lower impact on the adjacent teeth, your teeth will be at much lower risk for repeated intervention to maintain your teeth and the implants. You may still need to brush and floss your teeth regularly and have your routine dental cleanings, but you can expect fewer dental visits for repairs or replacement when compared to other interventions. Fewer repair or replacement procedures also means greatly reduced risk of infection or complications.

If you are ready to stop hiding your smile behind your hand or lips, call Kansas City Surgical Arts today at (816) 286-4126 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Hlavacek. With dual board certifications from the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dr. Hlavacek is uniquely qualified to not only address your needs from the perspective of medical dentistry and surgery, but also from an aesthetic point of view. This combination will leave you smiling freely and openly with teeth that are both functional and beautiful.