Hello, Southern Indiana! The office of New Albany Implants is back once more with an blog entry designed to help you with your oral health decisions. Even if you are diligent about your oral hygiene routines, you could still find yourself with some dental issues that need to be resolved.
For instance, an accident can leave you with some missing teeth, and it’s not a good idea to leave the gaps in your smile. Aside from the obvious cosmetic issues, missing teeth make it harder to chew, to speak, and make other oral health ailments, like tooth decay and gum disease, more likely.
When looking for a tooth replacement solution, you want one that will be as close as you can get to your natural teeth. While many tooth replacements to a good job of simulating your tooth above the gumline, very few simulate the root. Without a root, a replacement tooth cannot offer the same functionality as a natural tooth.
At New Albany Implants, we replace the whole tooth, not just the part everyone sees.
Your Natural Root
The root makes up two-thirds of the tooth, and it is buried deep in the bone socket of your jaw. The root anchors your tooth into place. It does not have a layer of enamel like the rest of your tooth. Instead your root is covered with a thin layer of a yellow bone-like substance called cementum. In turn, the cementum in covered by a layer of gum tissue that holds the tooth in place.
The roots of your teeth are pretty well protected by your gums, so if tooth decay affects one of your roots, that’s an indication of a serious oral health issue. Tooth decay can get to your roots only by making ithrough your enamel and dentin to infect pulp at the center of your tooth. Or gum disease can cause your gums to recede away from your tooth and expose the exterior of your root, and since it is lacking enamel, it is very vulnerable to tooth decay.
Both of these situations are serious oral health problems that will likely require a root canal and could very easily cause you to lose your tooth.
Your Dental Implant
A dental implant uses a titanium post to take the place of your root. Titanium is the prefered metal for surgical implants because of its resistance to corrosion and infection, and more importantly, it is especially good at bonding with human bone. As your implant heals your jaw will build new bone that will grow into the surface of the titanium post in a process called osseointegration. The tip of the post will protrude beyond the gumline so that a dental crown can be attached to it, thus creating a new tooth.
The new root created by the titanium implant gives you a secure tooth replacement solution that almost perfectly mimics your natural teeth. You will be able to eat all the foods you ate before losing a tooth without any worry of the dental implant coming loose the way dentures often do.
The Implant Difference
This synthetic root is what separates dental implants from other forms of tooth replacement. While dentures are an adequate replacement in most cases, they do not offer you the same benefits implants do. And it’s not just about stability, although that is a major issue. Because dentures only sit on top of your gums, they do nothing to support the bone density of your jaw.
When you lose a tooth, a large hole is left where the root once sat. Without the root there, the bone will wear away. This is particular problem with denture wearers because the bone deterioration will eventually change the shape of your mouth, and your dentures will no longer fit properly.
Since the titanium post of a dental implant integrates with your jaw bone, new bone mass will be produced. This means your mouth and face will keep its shape, keeping wrinkles from forming around your mouth prematurely.
Come to New Albany Implants for Your Tooth Replacement Solution
At New Albany Implants, right here in Southern Indiana, we have the skills and expertise to help you decide what tooth replacement solution is best for you. Come to our office and our friendly staff will make you feel right at home as we get you on your way to a brand new smile to be proud of.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment.