Dental Implants – A Solution to Tooth Loss

The loss of teeth is, at first appearance, a significant cosmetic injury. It is astonishing what a difference the absence of even a back tooth can make to one’s appearance. Even if no one else can point out what is changed, the unfortunate whose tooth is missing holds himself with self-conscious protection against being seen. He hides his face when possible, avoiding eye contact, and when he talks, talks differently. Feeling shame at the potential of a smile is no small thing–it affects one’s daily life, and like the beat of a butterfly’s wings, sets in motion long-term results of incalculable proportions.

While the cosmetic, and resulting emotional implications are not inconsequential, the importance of a full set of teeth extends into whole-body wellness. As one might expect, leaving a gap behind a lost tooth is inviting food particles to lodge, breeding gum disease in the tissue where it resides, and spreading decay to the other teeth. Moreover, a missing tooth is the impetus for teeth on either side to actually drift into the resulting gap. These teeth will begin to erupt out of the gums, exposing their roots and weakening the gums’ hold. In time, the renegade teeth are likely to either fall out themselves, or to attract decay that affects the entire mouth.

The teeth above the missing one are also likely to supererupt, as the tooth of the opposing jaw reaches to fill the gap. Similar results of exposed roots, disease attraction and compromised protection are the inevitable progression.

The reason for this natural drift of one’s teeth to fill a missing tooth’s place is the body’s instinct for self-protection. As soon as a tooth is lost, the supporting bone in the jaw begins to dissolve. Over time, this disintegration spreads to the entire jawbone, handicapping one of the most important functions of the entire body.

In times past, dentures or bridge restorations were the only means of alleviating the multiple threats posed by a missing tooth. But the advent of dental implants has proved a remedy of enormous superiority. Most dental implants are made out of pure titanium, which has proved to be the best element for integration into the sensitive bone structure. The device is shaped as a small, sturdy post that, when inserted, is enveloped by bone tissue, in the same manner as the roots of an actual tooth. Once anchored in the jawbone, implants can hold a crown, denture or bridge, seamlessly filling the former gap and allowing the jaw to develop and function as it is meant to. Maintenance of implants is as simple as the care of natural teeth–brushing, flossing, and regular visits to the dentist are all that is required to keep them functional.

Since their advent in 1952, dental implants have become a common service provided by most dentists and periodontists. Local companies specialize in this treatment, providing patient education, and offering amazingly quick treatment such as the “Teeth in a Day” protocol. Dental implants are a ready solution to the big and small problems posed by tooth loss.