Did you know that over 178 million Americans are missing at least one of their teeth? And to top that statistic off, nearly 40 million Americans are missing all of their teeth! Missing teeth isn’t an abnormal thing in this country. You could lose a tooth due to gum disease (periodontal disease), a lack of good oral hygiene, trauma, and more.
Missing Teeth?
Many people believe that missing a tooth (or multiple teeth) is merely a cosmetic issue. However, leaving a tooth missing for an extended time can do more than affect your appearance. It can cause bone loss, gum disease, cause damage and stress to surrounding teeth, and even create sagging in the appearance of your face. So what are your options?
Some common tooth replacement choices include dental bridges, removable dentures, and dental implants.
Dental Implants
Dental implants provide a way to permanently place replacement teeth into your mouth. There are single tooth implants as well as multiple tooth implants so there is something for everyone. Implants require that your gums and jaw bone are in good shape. To place dental implants, a small hole is made in your gums and jaw or skull bone. A metal post is placed in this hole as a sort of fake tooth root. Once you’ve healed a dental crown can be attached to the implant, giving you the look and feel of natural teeth.
Implant dentistry is a great option for those seeking to better care for themselves and their oral health. The success rates for dental implants are incredibly high and implant failure is very rare. The healing process doesn’t take long and with the correct pain medication, the whole process can be relatively pain-free.
Learn More!
If you’re interested in learning more about dental implants, give Yerba Buena Dentistry a call today! We’d love to answer any questions that you may have!
