Suffering from tooth loss can greatly detract from your daily quality of life. Suddenly, simple tasks that you once took for granted become much more challenging. When there are gaps in your grin, it’s much harder to eat, speak, and smile without frustration or embarrassment. You might find that you start to avoid social interactions if you’re overly concerned about what others might think of you.
Fortunately, your dentist can replace your missing teeth with dental implants. These lifelike prosthetics allow you to chew and talk more like you used to. Plus, they can enhance your appearance in several different ways. Continue reading to learn 3 of the cosmetic benefits of dental implants!
Benefit #1: They Maintain Your Jawline
Did you know that when you lose teeth your body absorbs bone mass from your jaw that’s no longer needed to serve as their foundation? Your jawbone gradually weakens as a result and begins to change the structure of your face. In time, it will start to sink visibly and cause sagging cheeks that can make you look older than you feel. To make matters worse, your jaw can degrade enough that it’s unable to support your remaining teeth.
Dental implants prevent this process because they involve surgically placing a titanium rod directly into your jaw. Every time you bite down or chew, this pole stimulates your bone to keep it active and healthy, just like the root of a natural tooth. This maintains your sharp jawline for a more youthful visage.
Benefit #2: They Look Natural
Your dental implant is inserted into your jawbone below the gumline, and then your dentist will provide a lifelike restoration that attaches to it to fill the space in your smile. Depending on your unique circumstances, you’ll be given a dental crown, bridge, or dentures that anchor to the titanium supports.
These prosthetics are typically made from resilient porcelain that’s customized to match the shade of your pearly whites. Once in place, you’ll have one or more perfectly beautiful artificial teeth that look just like the real thing.
Benefit #3: They Boost Your Confidence
People with dental problems are more likely to report feelings of anxiety, depression, and a lack of desire to socially engage. Unfortunately, gaps in your grin are easily noticeable and can leave you feeling self-conscious enough that you don’t want to spend much time with other people.
With dental implants in place, you’ll once again be able to chew and speak without issues and smile without worrying about how you’ll be perceived. You’ll once again look and feel like your best self, which can improve your confidence.
Dental implants are a fantastic way to simultaneously protect your oral health and enhance your appearance!
About the Author
Dr. Zac Young offers a full array of services under one roof to help you build and maintain happy, healthy teeth and gums. He attended Western Illinois University before earning his dental degree from the University of Illinois-Chicago. Today, he enjoys creating individualized treatment plans to meet his patients’ unique oral care needs. Whether you need a routine checkup or a more complex procedure like dental implants, he can help. Plus, he can perform the surgical placement in the office so that you don’t have to seek outside providers. If you’d like a consultation, you’re welcome to request an appointment on the website or by calling (708) 448-4161.