SCOTTS VALLEY, SANTA CRUZ, CA
If you have a missing tooth, your smile could benefit from a dental bridge, a removable partial denture, or a dental implant, depending on your oral health care needs. Although bridges and dentures can restore your smile’s appearance and functionality, they are not permanent solutions to replace missing teeth. Dental implants are the only choice for permanently replacing missing teeth, stimulating the underlying jawbone, and preserving your natural teeth. Our dentists in Los Gatos who offer dental implants at Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry share on the blog today how dental implants affect your other teeth.
Implants support themselves
Common treatments for replacing missing teeth are removable partial dentures or partials. Even though a partial rest on your gums, they connect with hooks and clasps to surrounding teeth, securing the partial in place. Additionally, partials should be removed after eating, rinsed clean, and placed back in the mouth.
Dental bridges are another option to replace a missing tooth. Using the two neighboring teeth as support, a dental bridge connects one healthy tooth to another, bridging the gap with a pontic or fake tooth. The bridge creates even biting force distribution. However, dental bridges require crowning the two teeth on either side of the gap. This may require crowning teeth that are perfectly healthy or redoing existing crowns that are already on those teeth. Additionally, dental bridges are not designed to last forever. They may need to be replaced every 10-20 years.
A dental implant is a standalone solution that requires no assistance from surrounding teeth. Our Santa Cruz implant dentists can replace your missing tooth and create a seamless smile by using a titanium screw surgically inserted into the jawbone and placing a dental crown on top. Once the implant fuses with the jawbone, it will create implant stability. Here’s why dental implants are the best choice for tooth replacement.
Implants Stimulate Bone
Dental implants stimulate the jawbone similarly as your natural tooth once did. Without stimulation, your jaw bone gradually resorbs and may cause tooth movement that could affect your smile, bite, and facial structure. However, jawbone areas underneath a dental bridge or partial denture are prone to changes since the jawbone will continue resorbing over time. As a result, the dental bridge will someday not lie flush against the gumline, or your partial denture may become too loose to adjust.
Implants are easy to clean
You probably already know that keeping your teeth clean is a critical step for good oral health. The same statement is true for dental implant care. Since dental implants mimic natural teeth, good preventive care oral hygiene habits are crucial. To keep your dental implant clean, brush and floss it daily along with your natural teeth.
Retain Your Natural Teeth Longer
Patients who lose one tooth are often more likely to lose more unless they replace their missing tooth. When you opt for a dental implant to restore your smile, you ensure structural integrity for the surrounding natural teeth.
Dental Implants in Los Gatos, Santa Cruz, and Scotts Valley, California
Choosing the right tooth replacement option for your smile can be overwhelming. Although the choices are many, only one permanent solution provides added benefits to your other teeth and your oral health. If you have a missing tooth and wonder if dental implants are the best treatment for you, feel free to call Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry at (831) 438-4411 or schedule a Smile Virtual Consult today!
