Dental Implants: How Do They Compare to Natural Teeth

A dental implant consists of a prosthetic tooth mounted on a titanium screw that is placed into the bone of your jaw in the area of tooth loss. The titanium post is a substitute for your lost tooth’s natural root. It is topped with an abutment — a connector that allows the dentist to place a crown or replacement tooth — on top of it.

Dental implants provide a natural-looking, long-lasting restoration for areas of tooth loss. They have the added benefit of not slipping, clicking, or moving when you eat, talk, or laugh as with some other restorative processes.

Here are three important ways that dental implants act as the perfect companion to your remaining natural teeth.

1. 1. Dental Implants are Long-Lasting — Just Like Natural Teeth

A properly fitted dental implant can last for twenty years or longer, making them a cost-effective long-term choice for restoring a missing tooth. Natural teeth are meant to last your lifetime, but many people experience the loss of at least one tooth throughout their lifespan due to one of the following:

1. 1. • Accidents
      • Tooth decay
      • Gum disease
      • Old fillings
      • Improper hygiene
      • Complicating factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or rheumatoid arthritis

In the past, the loss of a tooth often involved being fitted with a bridge or other dental appliance to fill in the gap and add functionality. However, a dental bridge may need to be replaced as soon as five years after placement and it also requires reducing nearby teeth, which can predispose them to issues down the line.

1. 1. Dental Implants are As Strong as Your Natural Teeth

Dental implants are considered a permanent solution to tooth loss, so by nature they are as strong as your natural teeth. Implants allow wearers to maintain proper chewing function — an activity that exerts a natural force on the jawbone that preserves jaw structure by protecting it from the atrophy caused by bone loss.

When implants are placed, a titanium screw is inserted into the jawbone and the dentist places a prosthetic tooth or crown to the part of the screw emerging from the gumline. Over time, the titanium screw will fuse naturally with the bone of your jaw, a process known as osseointegration. Titanium and its alloys are the materials of choice for dental implants due to their high strength and their ability to osseointegrate with the human body. Titanium screws have a ten-year success rate as high as 97% when used in dental implants.

1. 1. Dental Implants Need the Same Care as Natural Teeth

Just like your natural teeth, your dental implants need proper hygiene to be maintained. Although they can not decay like natural teeth, they can break, chip, or even loosen if they are not cared for properly.

In particular, if you suffer from bruxism — that is, grinding of your teeth at night or during the daytime — you should be fitted with a night guard to minimize the impact of grinding on your implants. Also, bad habits such as chewing ice or using your teeth to open bottle lids or tear open packages can lead to a chipped or broken dental implant.

1. 1. Dental Implants Can Match Your Existing Natural Teeth Perfectly

Best of all, dental implants can be perfectly matched to the shape, size, and color of your existing natural teeth. Each crown is made from porcelain, a material that perfectly matches the texture and translucency of your natural teeth. Your dentist will select a shade of porcelain from a card placed next to your natural teeth to ensure a perfect match.

You will need to continue good hygiene with your implant because, just like your natural teeth, your porcelain crown can get stained with coffee, berries, wine, and other foods and liquids.

Considering Dental Implants? Choose Renovo Endodontics for a Perfect Match

At Renovo Endodontics, we understand that losing a permanent tooth can be an upsetting experience — and it can even make performing daily activities like eating and talking more difficult.

That’s why we offer expert placement of dental implants for our patients. In a procedure that typically takes less than 30 minutes in the office, you can have a beautiful, natural-looking implant restoration that will keep you smiling for years to come.

Visit us today at renovoendo.com for more information or book your appointment now and discover how easy it is to replace your lost tooth with a strong, natural-looking dental implant.