When you lose your baby teeth, you tend to assume that your adult teeth will be with you for the rest of your life. Unfortunately, even your permanent teeth can be lost due to decay caused by disease, poor brushing habits, or certain traumatic events such as being hit by a foul ball at the local baseball field. Losing a tooth is nothing to be ashamed of, it happens to many adults. However, you don’t have to live with a gap in your smile.
If you have a tooth, or several teeth, missing from your smile, it can cause you to feel self-conscious about your appearance or it can cause you to hide your smile. Dr. Terry Vines believes that every patient in the Highland, CA, area should have the smile they want and deserve. He’s been working with patients for more than 25 years to find the best treatment plan to replace missing teeth and to keep their remaining teeth healthy.
One option that many patients are turning to is the use of dental implants. Dental implants are essentially titanium replacement tooth roots that are inserted into the jawbone. After the metal rod is placed, the jawbone fuses to it and it becomes a stable and durable fixture in your mouth. A crown is created and placed on top to give the appearance and the function of a natural tooth.
Dental implants have several benefits for patients. First, replacing a tooth is important, as it not only gives you a better smile, it also allows you to eat the foods you enjoy, speak clearly, and keep other teeth from shifting. Implants, once placed, are as strong as and look like your natural teeth. No one will ever have to know that you have a replacement tooth.
Although the dental implant process takes several trips to Dr. Vines’ office, is beneficial because it requires little or no reshaping of the surrounding teeth. Leaving those teeth alone and intact ensures that your mouth and remaining teeth stay healthy.
Finally, implants require no special care. Simply brush at least twice a day and floss nightly to keep the implant, and all of your teeth, free from plaque and bacteria. Maintain a regular twice-a-year checkup schedule with your dentist and avoid habits such as biting on hard objects or smoking, which can cause the tooth to break or discolor. With the proper care, your implant should last for many years and you should have the confidence you need to smile anytime you want.
For more information, or to schedule a consultation, call the office of Pure Gold Professionals in Dentistry today.