Some of you may be old enough to remember commercials by BASF from years ago. At the end of those ads, the announcer said that they didn’t make a lot of the products that people buy; they make those products better.
In restorative dentistry, we could say something similar about dental implants. They make dentures better — much, much better.
In truth, dental implants may be the most significant development in restorative dentistry in the last century. Unless scientists figure out a way to regrow lost teeth, implant-supported dentures are the closest thing to real replacement teeth that you can get.
If you have dentures or you are thinking about getting them, you deserve to know what kind of a difference dental implants could make. Dr. James C. Ross would be happy to schedule a consultation to examine your mouth and answer any questions you might have about implants.
If you live in or near our dentist office in Novi, MI, call 248-697-2487 or contact us online to request an appointment.
Getting To The Roots
You may already know that the roots of your teeth act as anchors to hold your teeth in your jawbone. You may not know that your roots also help to keep your jaw healthy.
Every time you take a bite or chew your food, your roots are pushed into your jawbone. Your jaw responds to that pressure by making new bone tissue, which is essential for replacing old tissue as it is resorbed.
When you lose teeth, you lose the roots as well. As a result, your jawbone doesn’t get the signal to make new bone tissue, which causes your jaw to get smaller. This also explains why traditional dentures can cause so many problems.
Traditional dentures rest outside your gums. They are not connected to your jawbone. This limits how much force you can put behind each bite you take (about one-quarter of the bite force of someone with all their teeth), and regular dentures won’t prevent the shrinking jaw problem we mentioned above.
That creates new issues over time. As your jaw shrinks, it changes the shape of your mouth as well. This can make traditional dentures feel looser the longer someone has them. This makes it even harder to eat, and this gives you reasons to worry that your dentures will slip out of place when you are talking.
Eventually, dentures will need to be refitted or replaced, but that won’t solve the underlying problem.
Dental Implants Are Replacement Roots
Dental implants can solve the problems mentioned above.
When you have dental implants, you are replacing the roots of your lost teeth. Implants are placed directly into your jawbone, and a series of implants can be used to secure and stabilize your dentures.
With implant-supported dentures, you restore that direct connection to your jawbone, so you can put more force behind each bite and chew. In fact, multiple studies have shown that patients with dental implants can generate almost as much force as people with all their teeth.
With implants, you will be able to comfortably eat all your favorite foods.
You will also be creating the pressure necessary for your jaw to create new bone tissue. As a result, you can feel confident that your dentures will remain where they should be, and you will be doing something that helps your jaw stay healthy and strong for decades to come.
Are Implants Right For You?
To find out, you should plan to talk to someone at the office of Dr. James C. Ross Family, Cosmetic & Laser Dentistry. You can request an appointment by filling out our online form or by calling 248-697-2487.