When you play a video game and make it to the next level, you feel excited because usually leveling up involves getting new rewards, and opportunities and overcoming harder challenges. When it comes to tooth replacement, the basic level is traditional dentures, a good place to start. However, if you want to take your prosthetic teeth a step further to something greater, you’ll need to attach them to dental implants.
But is “leveling up” to dental implants really worthwhile? Is attaching your dentures to these posts really that much more beneficial? Here are ways that dental implants can make a huge difference for your smile.
Dental Implants Offer Full Tooth Replacement.
Normal dentures rest on top of your gums and only replace the visible portion of your missing teeth. For some patients, this is sufficient—they seek prosthetics that look realistic. However, if you want your restored teeth to feel and function like real teeth, you’ll need to upgrade and attach your dentures to dental implants, which replace the entire tooth structure, including the root.
Dental Implants Stop Jawbone Deterioration.
Did you know that when a tooth root is removed, the jawbone slowly loses density. The jawbone relies on the root for stimulation, and it shrinks over time, giving many people with tooth loss a sunken, sagging appearance.
Dental implant posts keep the jawbone stimulated, drawing in essential nutrients. As a result, the jawbone and facial shape remain youthful and robust.
Dental Implants Restore a Stronger Bite.
When you first get traditional dentures, you may be able to eat many foods you weren’t able to have before replacement; however, within a few years, you’ll find that biting and chewing certain foods become more challenging. You may not be able to eat raw vegetables, which require more grinding, because your dentures feel loose. At best, dentures typically give you about 25 percent of your original biting force, but this strength drops the longer you have these prosthetics.
In contrast, dental implants give you about 75 percent of your biting strength. Dental implants are grounded in the jawbone, and when your dentures are bonded to these posts, they stay strong and able to bite and chew pretty much anything.
Just as leveling up in a video game is exciting and rewarding, taking your replacement teeth to the next level means that your smile can handle much more and that your world opens up to new possibilities.
About the Practice
At Coats Dental Group of Longmont, Dr. Brian and Kevin Coats are proud to offer multiple options for tooth replacement, including traditional dentures as well as implant-retained dentures. In fact, they can replace all missing teeth with as few as four implants. If you are interested in discussing implant dentures or other solutions, contact our office online or call our office at 303-776-4090 to schedule an appointment.