Dr. Snider is here blogging today from Fort Worth, TX to explain the many cosmetic and health benefits that implant dentistry can bring to baby boomer patients’ lives that have poor dental health. Dental implants can be used to give a more youthful and rested appearance, but they do far more to improve the oral and dental health of patients. Read below to find the dangers of missing teeth and the many oral benefits of dental implants.
Missing Something?
When patients are missing a tooth or teeth, they tend to be quite embarrassed and avoid smiling at all costs. However, an incomplete smile is not just considered “unattractive”, but unhealthy as well. As teeth decay from dental neglect and lack of brushing and flossing, they become more prone to falling out. Once a tooth has actually fallen out of the patient’s mouth, their risk of developing further infection and gum disease can greatly increase. Bacteria that is already sitting in the mouth, just waiting to feast on sugars and starches left between the teeth, multiplies and can cause serious infections in the gums like periodontitis.
When a patient experiences Periodontitis their gums will change color, bleed and recede from the teeth, this causes dangerous pockets of decay to buildup right on the root of the tooth. The inflammation in the mouth caused by gum infection can even affect the heart and brain’s health over time and the patient could even potentially die from this disease if they do not consult their doctor. Missing a tooth or more can affect any patient’s life- span and long- term health more easily than they realize.
Another reason that empty spaces in the gums can be harmful is due the destruction of gum tissue and jaw bone over time. When patients lose a tooth, not only do they avoid smiling, but also chewing and biting with this particular area due to discomfort or pain. We understand that it makes sense to neglect to use this area when masticating, but did you know that the tissue can actually weaken and disappear without these needed exercises? It sounds bizarre, but just like we have to keep our muscles in shape and healthy, we must do the same for the gums and jaw to keep them strong.
Supplemental Procedures
In order for patients to qualify for dental implants, they must possess an adequate amount and structure of tissue in the jaw and gums. The success rate dramatically decreases when the patient does have enough strength in these areas; dental implants are firmly planted in the patient’s jaw surrounded by gum tissue to ensure their permanent fit. If patients have severely damaged either of these oral regions, Dr. Snider has supplemental surgery options to help patients restore these areas and qualify for dental implants.
These procedures are called soft tissue augmentations and bone grafts; a soft tissue augmentation, or gum graft, is used to help patients rebuild tissue in the gum range. A bone graft is a bone tissue transplant in which the doctor replaces fractured or damaged bone with new and healthy osseous tissue; this procedure can be quite taxing on the patient so the recovery period can vary depending on the amount of bone needed, generally it will be 3-4 months.
Dental implants are perfect for the baby boomer generation when it comes to online dating and job promotions. We live in a vain dog- eat- dog world and unfortunately smiles count. Not only can placing dental implants in the empty spaces in your mouth give you a healthy and complete smile that could attract anyone you want, but they can also prevent patients from developing the horrors of gum disease. Due to the natural and biocompatible fusion between the dental implant titanium and the patient’s jawbone, these are able to function as real and natural teeth. Patients are able to experience comfortable biting, chewing, smiling, and speaking again in just months.
Want to learn more? Visit our Dental Implant Info page.
Call us Today to Schedule a Consultation in Fort Worth, TX
Dental implants could be the perfect solution for baby boomers who are suffering from poor dental health or missing teeth. These can provide a youthful appearance while working to restore oral health for years to come in a natural manner. Call us at Lake Country Dental to schedule a dental implant consultation with Dr. Snider today. We can be reached at (817) 697-3488.