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It’s something we hear at our practice all the time. When you’re missing one or more teeth, you just don’t feel complete. And it’s not hard to figure out why — living with a gapped smile is a real confidence killer. That’s why the team at Maegan Elam, DDS & Associates loves helping patients complete their smiles with excellent options like implant-retained dentures. They’re truly the best choice in tooth replacement — keep reading to learn more.
Sometimes called nature’s rival, nothing replaces a natural tooth as well as a dental implant. That’s because other options, like non-implant supported dentures and fixed bridges, only give you back the visible portion of a missing tooth. But when you’ve lost a tooth, you’re missing its root, too — so why restore only half of what’s gone?
Tiny posts made of titanium, dental implants are inserted directly into the gum to act as a prosthetic root for the tooth replacement, or denture. After a recovery period of approximately six months following the initial procedure, the implants have fused with the bone (a process known as osseointegration) and are super secure and ready to receive your beautiful dentures.
As we said before, other replacement options don’t take into account the missing tooth root — and that results in more than just an ill-fitting denture. Without the stimulation the root provides, the jawbone will slowly disintegrate and change shape over time, meaning your non-implant supported denture or fixed bridge will have to be refitted periodically. With a healthy, whole jawbone, however, your dental implants can easily last for a lifetime when cared for properly.
The benefits of implant-supported dentures include:
When it comes time for your tooth replacement, there’s really no question about it: dental implants allow patients to enjoy the most beauty, stability and overall oral health, period.
If time, your budget or your oral health prevent traditional dental implants from being the best option for your tooth replacement, you’ll be happy to know our Bedford office is proud to offer All-on-4 dental implants, too! This option can support a top or bottom denture on as few as four dental implants.
The benefits of All-on-4 dental implants compared to traditional implants include:
If you’re interested in learning more about tooth replacement with dental implants in Bedford, please don’t hesitate to contact our office to schedule your 2016 appointment! We can’t wait to help you achieve your smile dreams.