How to Get a Beautiful Smile Even with Missing Teeth

Do you have missing teeth that spoil your smile? Do you avoid smiling in public, or cover your mouth with your hand when you do? This is a very common problem, but that doesn’t make it any less embarrassing. After all, your smile is generally the first thing people notice about you, and as the old saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Fortunately, dental implants can provide a great solution to this problem, giving you a beautiful, healthy, natural-looking smile you’ll be proud to flash anywhere – no camouflage necessary.

Replacing Missing Teeth: Here’s What Dental Implants Can Do For You

Dental implants are today’s best option for replacing missing teeth – most especially when it comes to those very visible front teeth. What makes them better than other options, like a bridge or partial denture for instance? Dental implants offer what no other teeth replacement option can – new teeth that look, feel, and function like healthy, natural teeth. That’s because dental implant restorations are structured like natural teeth, with an artificial tooth root (the implant) placed into the jaw, bonding with the bone tissue like a natural tooth root to support a natural-looking crown.

When you flash that smile, those new implant-supported teeth will be indistinguishable from your remaining natural ones, and you won’t have to worry about a denture slipping out of place or a bridge coming loose. Nor will you have the functional limitations common to other options – such as avoiding certain foods that may be difficult to manage with partial dentures or bridges. Additionally, replacing the tooth root means that you’ll have protection against bone loss, which means better oral health and appearance, and is a good part of the reason that dental implants last for an average of 25 years. Partial dentures and bridges, on the other hand, loosen over time as the bone beneath them shrinks away, making replacement necessary every few years.

About The Dental Implant Procedure

So what, exactly, is involved in getting dental implants? While no two patients are alike and the process is very individualized, for the average Clarksville, TN dental patient, the process will involve seeing an oral surgeon to plan and perform the dental implant procedure, during which the dental implants will be placed into the jawbone. These procedures are, from the patient’s standpoint, relatively quick and comfortable, with many patients finding it no more uncomfortable than a simple tooth extraction. After a healing period of 2 to 4 months to allow the implants to bond with the jawbone, small posts, called abutments, will be attached to the implants, onto which natural-looking crowns will be placed to complete the dental restoration.

These steps may vary somewhat from one patient to another according to the type of implants used and the particular treatment plan. For instance, some implants come with abutments attached, eliminating a step, and some patients may be able to be fitted with immediate-load implants, eliminating the waiting period between the dental implant procedure and the placement of their new teeth.

So how to get started? The first step is a consultation appointment with your Clarksville, TN oral and maxillofacial surgeon. During that appointment, your mouth will be examined, dental imaging done, and a complete medical history taken. If your oral surgeon determines that you’re a good candidate for dental implants – and most people are – treatment planning will begin and you’ll be on your way to getting rid of the gaps left by missing front teeth, transforming them into a bright and beautiful smile.