Benefits of Dental Implants
The benefits that come with Dental Implants are significant. The biggest effects come from what you don’t see, and not seeing the difference is a good thing. Dental implants restore the base of a tooth after it is lost. Much like any other structure, the base or foundation is the stabilizing force. Without the base, any false tooth is just that, false. At Scholes Periodontics & Implants, our patients are working with a team who is trained and skilled to specifically meet the needs of patients who experience tooth loss, gum disease, and restoration through dental implants. During your evaluation with Dr. Scholes, we can review and assess your needs through the assistance of digital imaging, helping you make a thoughtful decision which may include dental implants.
Entire tooth restorations done without implants restores the look and some of the function but does not restore the connection of the tooth and jawbone. If you consider your teeth in three parts, you have a building block of the jaw bone, the tooth root, and then the tooth itself. Together, these three parts work in unison to provide you a functioning system.
When a tooth is lost, the root is also lost. We can place a false tooth using a bridge or partial denture, but this does not restore the root. The only way to restore a missing root is through the surgical placement of a dental implant. Once the root is restored, we can then place a replacement tooth over the implant, restoring the entire tooth and recreating that connection with the bone.
The benefits of a dental implant include:
| • | Preserving your Bone: A significant side effect of tooth loss is the deterioration of the jawbone. When a tooth is lost, the jawbone no longer receives the motion or exercise it needs to stay healthy. Almost immediately the bone will begin to atrophy, decreasing drastically in size. In the first year following the loss of a tooth, the bone will shrink 25% in that location. After a time, the patients facial appearance will change, giving them what we have come to think of as an older appearance. This atrophy occurs even if the patient has a prosthetic device placed because there is still no root to pass the motion to the jawbone. By placing a dental implant, we can stop this shrinkage to the bone. Implants are the only way to restore this connection and continue to keep the bone robust. |
| • | Increase your Function: The loss of teeth can alter your speech, your appearance, and your ability to chew certain foods. Patients with missing teeth can frequently experience frustration with feeling forced to omit foods from their diet, or embarrassment in their missing teeth. Implants do more than just place a false alternative, they are a complete restoration, looking and feeling like your natural tooth. |
Working with a periodontist, Dr. Scholes can review your treatment with you and show you the difference a dental implant can make. There are options designed to replace a single, multiple or even all of your teeth. We have prosthetics that can work with implants or work in tandem with implants and teeth.
For more information on implants, or to find out if you may be a candidate, contact Dr. Scholes at Scholes Periodontics & Implants. Our front office staff is here to assist you. (602) 900-1609