Aside from the cosmetic advantages of replacing a missing tooth, are there actual health benefits and medical advantages of getting dental implants? Absolutely. And while most of the health benefits of implants do impact your smile, not all of them are tooth related.
Improved Nutritional Intake
The first step of a healthy digestive system is having a functional set of teeth to chew and break down your food. As we get older, a lot of us experience deficiencies in vitamins and minerals because of the foods we are or aren’t eating. With missing teeth or dentures, it’s not always possible to break down nutritional foods for us to absorb in our intestinal tract. This scenario can raise our chances of illness, disease, malabsorption, and weight loss. Each situation can significantly reduce our quality of life and life expectancy.
Since implants are stronger than natural teeth, they’re capable of breaking down any food you could possibly want to eat, providing significant medical advantages. From fresh fruits and vegetables to meats and everything in-between, you won’t have to worry about selectively choosing your bites of food for a healthy nutrient intake.
Physical Medical Advantages: Stronger Bone
The materials that dental implants are made out of trigger a natural response called “osseointegration.” Osseointegration is what happens when your bone is stimulated to form a new layer of bone, fusing to whatever is next to it.
Why is this significant? Because of the bone resorption (shrinkage) that typically happens any time you lose a tooth. Typically, with tooth loss, we’ll see the jaw in that area begin to shorten and thin out. This change can lead to a shrinking or shortening in your facial profile, a weaker jaw, and loss of support for any adjacent tooth roots.
Since implants promote bone integration, they practically stop the natural bone loss that happens after a tooth goes missing. This step reinforces the strength of your jaws, improves overall bone density, and helps with anti-aging benefits to boot!
Hypoallergenic, Biocompatible Materials
All of the materials that are used to make dental implants are biocompatible. Meaning your body easily accepts them and won’t reject them when they’re installed, offering huge medical advantages. Each one is crafted from a hypoallergenic material that is also used in common medical procedures, such as joint replacement.
Since these materials are biocompatible, you don’t have to worry about failure or rejection, even if you typically have a sensitivity to certain metals. That being said, we do ask that you let us know of any known allergies that you have, just to be sure.
When we install a biocompatible device like a medical implant, the goal is to have it stay there for the rest of your life. That’s why titanium materials are frequently used by other medical specialists, such as surgeons.
Each of these medical-grade devices can last for years without worrying about potential infection or failure, presuming they’re looked after properly. With a high 98% success rate, it’s likely that dental implants will actually outlast all your healthy teeth.
Reinforces Any Existing, Natural Teeth
Installing dental implants next to anatomical teeth is a great way to preserve your natural biting patterns. By nature, teeth tend to start shifting or leaning out of place once their neighbor goes missing. Over time, a chain reaction takes place across your entire mouth. Each of the teeth can become displaced, including the ones on the opposing arch (because of how they bite—or don’t bite—against a certain area.)
As teeth start to tilt, they’re exposed to atypical pressure points that can cause irregular enamel wear. Common side effects will also include broken or chipped teeth and dental work. Everyday motions like chewing have to change so that you can grind down your food effectively. And as a result, the shifting bite relationship will also impact the motion of your TMJ (jaw joint.) If you’ve never had TMJ issues in the past, missing teeth could change that. TMJ pain, migraines, headaches, and musculoskeletal pain in your neck, shoulders, and back are all trickle-down side effects.
Crooked teeth are also at a higher risk of cavities and gum disease.
Since implants are permanently set into place in the bone, they add extra reinforcement to your smile. Like bookends, they prevent what’s between them from tilting, drifting, or shifting out of place. So even if it’s “just one tooth that’s missing,” getting a dental implant is a smart investment in your entire smile.
Are Dental Implants Safe?
It is extremely safe to place dental implants. Similarly, their success rate is extremely high, making them more predictable than nearly any other type of dental restoration. When you care for them properly, you can usually expect your DFW dental implants to last the rest of your life.
As with any dental treatment, you’ll still need to complete a thorough screening and exam before deciding to get implants. If you’re taking certain types of medications, have a bleeding disorder, or the lining of your nasal sinuses has dropped, steps need to be taken before it’s safe to install dental implants.
Working with a highly experienced implant specialist will ensure the best possible outcome for your smile. The more training and experience your provider has, the safer you’ll be able to feel.
Extend the Life and Function of Other Teeth
When you get dental implants, your dentist doesn’t have to alter the physical structure of your adjacent teeth. There is no cutting or drilling into their enamel to make room for the implant structure. Instead, it sits directly next to them.
Unfortunately, that’s not the case for other popular tooth replacements. Dental bridges, for example. Bridges require cutting into the enamel on both neighboring teeth to create a space for the bridge to bond to. This invasive process can be beneficial if those teeth already need to be reinforced with a dental crown. But if they’re healthy, virgin teeth, reducing their enamel compromises the long-term health of the tooth as a whole.
Even conventional options like dentures or partial dentures will impact other teeth. Dentures can’t be worn unless all teeth are extracted or missing. And partials can still rub, push into, or require reshaping adjacent teeth.
Implants are the only holistic tooth replacement option that helps you preserve the other teeth in your smile at the same time.
Are You a Candidate for Implants?
ARCHPOINT Implant Dentistry in Dallas and Fort Worth offers complete implant therapy for single and multiple missing teeth. If you’re looking for the safest, most holistic way to restore your smile, dental implants are the best option. Contact ARCHPOINT today to reserve a consultation.
