When You Should Get Dental Implants

When facing the reality of losing a tooth, many patients can experience feelings of self-consciousness, dread, or embarrassment. While these emotions are understandable, it’s important to realize that millions of Americans are living with a missing tooth. Of them, many have lost an entire arch or even every tooth they had. In the past, the only answer to their concerns was to receive dentures, an effective if somewhat primitive and often uncomfortable solution to their dental concerns. Today dental implant technology has taken the place of dentures as the preferred dental prosthesis thanks to their aesthetic appeal and ability to strengthen the jaw.

What Are Dental Implants?

Let’s start with a simple explanation of what dental implants actually are. Dental implants are a special form of dental prosthesis that involves a specialized crown that connects to one or more titanium screws implanted in the jaw. This configuration makes them fit firmly in place, acting in every meaningful way like a set of natural teeth. The titanium used in the screws actually strengthens the jaw and helps it heal due to its ability to encourage osseointegration. This means, in essence, that the titanium stimulates bone growth and eventually integrates into the jawbone as if it had always been there. Atop these screws are abutments that are used for mounting the prosthesis crown in a design that can easily replace one tooth, multiple teeth, or every tooth in your mouth if necessary.

Is Replacing Missing Teeth Necessary?

There’s a common misconception that replacing teeth that have fallen out or been extracted is an act of vanity. It’s important to understand that your mouth is an integrated system, with every part of it relying on every other part to maintain optimum oral health. Each tooth supports the neighboring teeth by sharing the workload of chewing, but also as literal support that helps teeth remain in their original positions. When teeth are lost, so is the stability a full set of teeth provides. Getting dental implants can restore this stability by taking the place of your natural teeth. Even more importantly, it can help ensure that your remaining teeth don’t experience excessive wear and tear caused by the absence of support from the missing teeth. As you can see, replacing missing teeth is more than just vanity; it’s an essential part of maintaining your overall oral health for a lifetime. 

Patients who have missing teeth are welcome to reach out to Sunset Dental Group in Santa Ana, CA, to schedule an appointment and consultation about dental replacement with implants. Our team of dental experts is respected in our local community as a leading provider of dental restoration services, in part due to the commitment and efforts of Drs. Amanda Rae Kronquist and Zakary Adam Kronquist. Under her guidance, our clinic has come to serve an important role in our local community, servicing dental patients like you with a full range of treatment options. Don’t let missing teeth impact your oral health or leave you feeling subconscious. Reach out to our Santa Ana office today and arrange for an appointment!