You can understand how challenging it is to order food from your favorite restaurant if you’re missing a tooth. It takes longer to chew your food, and it’s certainly not enjoyable eating in front of other people, let alone trying to enjoy your food. When you’re missing a tooth your confidence suffers, your nutrition suffers, and did you know that your oral health also suffers?
Why Replace My Tooth?
Without a replacement, your remaining teeth will begin to shift into the open space, leaving your bite compromised. A misaligned bite can put your remaining teeth at a greater risk for fractures, damage and periodontal disease. It can also contribute to a painful jaw joint disorder known as TMD, or temporomandibular disorder.
Your bone will also begin to resorb, or lose density without a root in place. When your bone deteriorates, it changes the appearance of your face, giving you a more sunken or sagging appearance, and causing you to look much older than you are. It also puts you at a greater risk for more losing more of your healthy teeth.
What is a Dental Implant?
A dental implant replaces both your tooth and your root, and this is why it’s the most successful option for restoring a missing tooth. A biocompatible titanium post is surgically placed into your bone and allowed to heal and integrate. After the appropriate healing time, your tooth is restored with a porcelain crown that is custom designed to match your existing teeth and complement your smile.
What are the Benefits of Dental Implants?
When you replace your tooth with a dental implant, you’ll be able to brush, floss, talk, eat and chew just as you would with your natural tooth. Dental implants are very durable and designed to last, so with excellent home care and regular cleaning and check up appointments your implant can last for a lifetime.
Implants look very natural like your original tooth and complete your smile as if you had never lost a tooth. This protects the integrity of your remaining teeth, while your new titanium root ensures that your jawbone is healthy and stimulated.
At Ritchie Dental Group, Dr. Ritchie uses GALILEOS 3D imaging to aid in implant placement during surgery. This advanced technology takes the guesswork out of placing your implant and ensures a successful implant. Implant treatment boasts a 95% success rate making it a very reliable choice for patients.
To determine if you’re a candidate for a dental implant the first step is to contact Dr. Greg Ritchie and set up an initial evaluation appointment. Implants do require the patient to be in good overall health and enough healthy bone structure to be successful. Most everyone is a candidate for implants, however Dr. Ritchie can discuss all the options for tooth replacement that are available to you at your consultation. We’re ready to help you reclaim your smile! Contact the Ritchie Dental Group to learn more about how we can help you.
