Our Grand Rapids dentists may recommend dental implants after extracting teeth. A dental implant is a prosthetic tooth root made of titanium that supports an abutment and crown. Many of our patients appreciate dental implants because they look and function like natural teeth.
If you haven’t already, check out our frequently asked questions page for dental implants. There you’ll find all the information you need before scheduling an appointment with our restorative dentists.
Here are 3 signs you might be ready to pursue the dental implant procedure.
1. You Have Missing Teeth
If you have missing teeth, our dentists might recommend an implant to help you maintain good oral health. Otherwise, your lower jaw will start to deteriorate and eventually alter the shape of your face. The best time to get a tooth implant is immediately after extraction.
Your teeth are held in place by roots and adjacent teeth. This means that when you lose a tooth, nearby teeth are likely to tilt toward the open space, loosen, and eventually fall out. Fortunately, dental implants support nearby teeth so you can continue smiling with confidence.
Dental implants can also help you maintain good oral health after losing a tooth. In fact, a tooth implant can help you avoid the following consequences:
- Bone loss in jaw
- Facial collapse
- Further tooth loss
- Ill-fitting dentures
- Feeling self-conscious about your smile
2. You Qualify for a Dental Bridge
A bridge consists of an artificial tooth anchored by crowns on healthy adjacent teeth. In other words, a dental bridge “bridges” the gap left by a missing tooth. If you aren’t sure whether you qualify for a , call our office to schedule a consultation with our dentists. We’d be more than happy to answer any questions you might have.
In order to place a dental bridge, our dentist would have to file down teeth on both sides of the gap. Once this tooth structure is removed, it can never be replaced. Our dentist prefers implants over bridges because they don’t affect adjacent teeth. This lets you keep as much natural tooth structure as possible.
A tooth implant is sturdier than a bridge because it’s anchored to your jaw. This added stability helps you smile, talk, and eat with confidence. Dental implants from Precision Family Dental are also long-lasting. This means you’ll be able to enjoy a beautiful healthy smile for years to come.
3. You Wear Full or Partial Dentures
Dentures don’t because they sit on top of your gums. An implant, on the other hand, will exert pressure that your lower jawbone needs to stay healthy. If you don’t receive a dental implant, you will eventually lose jawbone tissue and experience facial collapse. Once the jawbone deteriorates, it’ll become harder to refit dentures so you can chew without pain.
Unlike dentures, dental implants never slip. This means that you can eat, talk, and smile like you did before tooth loss. Denture teeth also have to be submerged in water or denture cleanser when they aren’t in your mouth, while implants can be cared for like natural teeth.
Read more: Should I get dentures or dental implants? >>
Bonus: You Want an Unrestricted Diet
Even well-fitting dentures will occasionally slip when you sneeze, cough, laugh, or smile. This makes it hard to continue eating your favorite foods after losing a tooth. Eating tough foods (like steak) can also create sore spots where your dentures meet your gums.
With dental implants, you can eat whatever you want once you heal from the procedure. Dental implants are embedded in your jawbone, stabilizing the abutment and crown so they don’t move while you chew. This lack of movement will give you more confidence when you eat in public.
Request an Appointment
Our restorative dentists in Grand Rapids, MI, Dr. Adam Piotrowski and Dr. Taylor Cohen, can let you know if you are a candidate for dental implants. To request an appointment, call Precision Family Dental at (616) 949-1570.
This blog post has been updated.