Can I Get Botox and Fillers at the Same Time?
You may have heard that Botox® and fillers serve different functions, and you may think you need both, but can you get them at the same time? Read on to find out.
Dental Implant: Why Should You Replace That Missing Tooth?
Permanent teeth are meant to last a lifetime, but that doesn’t always happen. Clinching and grinding, poor oral hygiene, trauma, and extractions can result in tooth loss, leaving an empty socket in their wake. Unfortunately, this increases the risk of other oral health problems, so replacing lost teeth is essential.
At Complete Dental Arts, in Newnan, Georgia, experienced dentist Charley Cheney III, DMD, and our team regularly use dental implants to replace missing teeth. Here, we explain dental implants and highlight some of their benefits.
What is a dental implant?
A dental implant is a small titanium root that replaces your natural tooth root. If you lose a permanent tooth, Dr. Cheney inserts a dental implant into the empty socket and it fuses with the bone underneath through a process called osseointegration.
Once osseointegration is complete, Dr. Cheney covers the implant with a dental prosthetic, like a crown or bridge. The crown or bridge fills the gap in your smile, restoring your biting and chewing abilities.
3 reasons you should replace a missing tooth
Losing a permanent tooth may not seem like that big a deal, but not replacing it can lead to various problems, including:
1. Bone loss
Chewing naturally places pressure on your teeth. This pressure is transferred to the bone underneath, helping maintain its strength and integrity.
If you lose a tooth, the bone in that area of your mouth no longer gets the same simulation. This causes it to deteriorate over time through “bone resorption” (bone weakening and loss). Ultimately, this bone loss can affect your oral health and ability to wear oral prosthetics, like dentures.
A dental implant keeps your jawbone stimulated and slows down the resorption process.
2. Gum recession
Losing a permanent tooth doesn’t just affect the supporting bone, it also causes your gums to recede (pull away from your teeth). This increases the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Additionally, it causes pockets to form where harmful bacteria and food particles can collect.
Placing a dental implant into an empty tooth socket provides a stable, toothlike structure for your gums to attach to. This prevents them from shrinking and receding, preserving your smile and oral health.
3. Tooth shifting
Teeth naturally move and shift throughout your life. Most of these movements are subtle, but if you have a missing tooth, the teeth on either side of the gap in your smile can shift into the space and affect your teeth’s alignment and symmetry. This affects your smile’s appearance, but can also lead to problems like jaw pain and difficulty chewing.
Replacing a missing tooth with a dental implant preserves your tooth socket and prevents noticeable movements from occurring.
Interested in learning more about dental implants? We can help!
If you’ve lost one (or several) permanent teeth, dental implants may be able to restore your smile and prevent further damage. To see if you’re a candidate, contact us today. Call the our office in Newnan, Georgia, or click the online booking feature.
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