If you’ve lost one or more teeth to a dental disease or accident, then you may have heard of dental implants—the surgically-inserted prosthetic roots used to support your replacement teeth. As the only solution for replacing lost teeth roots, dental implants offer an abundance of benefits for your long-term oral health. Downey dentist, Dr. Pasha Hakimzadeh, often recommends dental implants for patients who’ve lost one, several, or all of their teeth. With the prosthetic support, your replacement teeth will look, feel, and function as well as your healthy, natural teeth.
Your Teeth Need Roots
Conventional teeth replacements, such as partial and complete dentures, are designed to closely emulate the appearance of your natural teeth. Made from innovative dental porcelain, your replacement teeth will be virtually indistinguishable from your natural smile. What bridges and dentures cannot due, however, is mimic the support of your natural teeth, which is provided in part by the roots embedded in your jawbone. Aside from keeping your teeth steady, their roots also help maintain a healthy, strong jawbone by inviting nutrients to your sustain your smile’s foundation. Losing teeth roots means a reduced supply of nutrients to the jawbone and eventual jawbone degradation (facial collapse).
The Science of Replacing Teeth
The beauty of dental implants is that they can support your dental prosthesis regardless of how many teeth you’ve lost. Also, if you already wear dentures or a dental bridge, then dental implants can still help improve your current replacement teeth by adding the support of embedded roots. If you’ve lost teeth long ago and your jawbone has deteriorated as a result, then Dr. Pasha will closely evaluate your jaw and mouth, and may recommend a bone graft to fortify a weak jawbone before dental implants can be placed.
Dental Implants and Jawbone Deterioration
When you bite and chew, the stimulation of your roots helps maintain an adequate flow of nutrient-rich blood to your jawbone. After a tooth is lost, the area of jawbone around its socket is resorbed by your body, and the minerals and nutrients are dispersed to other areas of the body. Your jawbone’s future nutrient supply is also affected, which can lead to further jawbone deterioration and the loss of one or more teeth.
About Downey Family & Cosmetic Dentistry:
Dr. Hadis Reyhani, Dr. Ben Reyhani, and Dr. Pasha Hakimzadeh provide a wealth of combined experience, along with innovative technology and personalized care, to help improve our patients’ dental health and function and help them enjoy smiling again. To schedule a consultation, call Downey Family Cosmetic Dentistry today at (562) 472-2433.
