Besides appearance and the ease of eating, dental implants are needed for good dental health. Food, plaque, and bacteria tend to build up wherever you are missing teeth. This buildup can be really hard to clean, so you may end up developing cavities and other dental problems. And over time, your remaining teeth begin to shift to close the spaces, which then causes your bite to be misaligned.

How Dental Implants Work

The dental implant itself is actually used to replace your tooth’s roots. They act as roots (and a base) for permanent teeth that will be placed later. When acting as the roots, the implant is able to stimulate the bone in the site therefore maintaining healthy bone levels, which is necessary for the success of the tooth. After the dental implant has integrated to become a stable part of your mouth, a permanent tooth is placed in that implant to replace your natural tooth.

When done correctly and cared for properly, dental implants can last a patient’s whole life. It is still important to brush your teeth, floss, and use mouthwash with implants. It is also important to maintain routine dental checkups to ensure your mouth is still healthy

If you have missing teeth, you may need dental implants. We want you to smile confidently, chew comfortable, and not develop any future jaw or bite alignment issues from these missing teeth. If you have any questions about dental implants, please do not hesitate to contact our office at (417)553-0856.