You may have heard that dental implants are the tooth replacement that’s most like your natural teeth. But just how close are they to natural teeth? Very. In fact, they are like your tooth in almost every way.
They Look Natural
When dental implants are placed properly, they look so much like natural teeth that most people wouldn’t know they’re not natural. On first inspection, your dentist and hygienist might not even be able to tell.
Unlike dentures and bridges, dental implants are anchored in your jawbone just like natural teeth. They are surrounded by gum tissue, which can grow up healthy around it.
They Function Like Natural Teeth
Dental implants function just like natural teeth. They are anchored in the jawbone like natural teeth, so you can bite and chew normally with them. They can exert the same high levels of bite force as your natural teeth, so you can keep eating all your favorite foods. There’s no need to cut out steak, fresh fruit, or corn on the cob from your diet. And you don’t have to take them out for eating, either.
Care for Them Like Natural Teeth
Dental implants are great because they only require the same care as natural teeth. Just brush, floss, and make regular dental visits like normal. The biggest change may be a little bit different approach to flossing.
Support Gums and Bone Health
Tooth replacements like dental bridges or dentures don’t replace the tooth roots. This can have long-term consequences. The jaw bone supports the tooth root, but the tooth root also stimulates the jaw bone. Without the stimulation of a tooth root, the jaw bone can waste away. And with it, the gum tissue that surrounds and protects your teeth.
Dental implants are supported in the jaw bone, and this means that they also stimulate the jaw bone so it stays healthy and can support attractive gum tissue.
A Structure Like Natural Teeth
Dental implants can be so much like natural teeth because they are structured like natural teeth. Natural teeth have a crown and a root that are made of different materials. The crown is attractive enamel, and the root is cementum, which is less attractive, but better for attaching to bone.
Dental implants have this two-part structure, too. They have a root that’s made of titanium, which can integrate with your bone, and the crown, which is made of a highly attractive and durable ceramic.
How Are They Different?
Dental implants are a little different from natural teeth, though. They aren’t made of the same materials, so they’re not vulnerable to decay or acidic erosion. And, unlike natural teeth, the dental crowns on implants are stain resistant, so they can maintain their attractive color for decades if properly maintained.
Dental implants are also a little different in how they attach to the jawbone. Where natural teeth have periodontal ligaments that bond the tooth to the bone, implants attach directly to the bone. This means that dental implants don’t have as much cushion or as much feedback as natural teeth.
If dental implants aren’t placed properly, this may lead to problems. You might bite down too hard and not know it. That’s why it’s so important to get your dental implants from a neuromuscular dentist, who understand and can measure bite forces so they’re never too strong for your implants.
Are You Looking for Natural Tooth Replacement in Hilton Head?
Have you lost one or more teeth? Are you looking for a natural tooth replacement? Are you in or could you travel to Hilton Head, SC? If so, then we would love to talk to you. Please call (843) 706-2999 today for an appointment with an implant dentist at Beyond Exceptional Dentistry.
