Missing teeth are a serious problem. Without a full set of pearly whites, you leave yourself vulnerable to oral health problems ranging from jawbone deterioration and teeth shifting to gum recession and periodontal disease.
But replacing your teeth can be tricky when you have so many choices. Do you opt for removable dentures? Should you take the plunge and invest in dental implant surgery?
At Rifkin Dental in Carmel and Yorktown Heights, New York, our team of dentists has years of experience helping folks just like you replace their missing teeth and sidestep the avalanche of complications that come with them. And whenever possible, we recommend dental implants.
Whether you’ve just lost your teeth or you’re looking to upgrade your current tooth replacement method, dental implants offer the most versatility, durability, and flexibility — and it doesn’t stop there.
Here’s a closer look at other ways you can benefit from dental implants.
Dental implants look and feel almost exactly like the rest of your teeth, so you can fill in the gaps of your teeth and practically forget which were missing. The process for getting dental implants may take longer than other tooth replacement options, but ultimately, you walk away with a smile that you’re confident looks as good as it functions.
During your implant surgery, we embed the metal post of the dental implant into your jawbone, where your tooth root once was. Over time, your jawbone accepts the implant in a process called osseointegration. This means that the implant becomes a permanent part of your mouth and effectively prevents your jawbone from deteriorating — no adhesives required.
Because dental implants are permanently fixed in your mouth, there’s little risk of them breaking, becoming damaged, or needing to be repaired or cleaned regularly. In fact, your new implants don’t require any more care than your other teeth, so once your surgeries are over and you’ve recovered, you simply brush and floss daily to keep them clean.
Other tooth replacement methods complicate your oral hygiene routine and are vulnerable to cavities, disease, and other oral health issues. Our patients love dental implants because they don’t disrupt your oral hygiene ritual, and the artificial teeth are resistant to cavities.
Dental implants mimic the look and function of regular teeth, which means you can speak and chew as you did before you lost your teeth. You don’t have to be self-conscious about false teeth slipping out or interfering when you try to talk and eat.
One of the major complications of missing teeth is the possibility of your remaining teeth shifting out of place. Dental implants fill the gaps and keep all your teeth where they should be. Bonus: We usually don’t have to prepare or grind down your natural teeth for dental implants.
The short answer is, yes, almost everyone can get dental implants. As long as you have enough jawbone to support the implant and the rest of your teeth are in good condition, you’re likely a candidate for dental implants. We also recommend you commit to maintaining a consistent oral hygiene routine and scheduling annual checkups with us before investing in implant surgery.
If you’d like more information about dental implants or you’d like to schedule an appointment and see if you’re a candidate, call our location most convenient to you or use our online booking tool to contact our friendly staff.
