Three essential practices contribute to good oral health, namely brushing your teeth, flossing after meals, and visiting your local dentist. While maintaining these habits will lessen the chances of having oral care problems, you can still develop complications against your will. Complex medical conditions and even simple physical trauma can lead to chipped, damaged, or removed teeth. Thankfully, you can receive dental implants as viable and durable substitutes to complete your smile.

Replacing a missing tooth through dental implants isn’t a simple and straightforward process. For example, not all patients are aware that dental implants will significantly impact their facial appearance. Besides filling in missing teeth, dental implants will also affect your face’s structure, leading to specific changes you should expect.

 Why do people get dental implants?

Repairing teeth isn’t just a cosmetic issue; it can also be a considerable risk for oral care problems. While the buildup of germs and bacteria is more common, a missing tooth also deprives your jawbone of sufficient nutrients and pressure. The area around the vacant spot will gradually shrink and be prone to being vulnerable. Because of this, your jaw’s bone width can decrease within a year of tooth loss.

How dangerous is it to have missing teeth?

Since your body’s bone structure isn’t balanced, your bones will outsource calcium from your jaw to other bones through a process known as resorption. This is common to elderly individuals with much lesser bone mass, giving them sunken cheeks and decreased gum size. If you don’t replace your missing tooth immediately, your chances of experiencing these aesthetic complications earlier will increase.

Losing just one tooth can already make a drastic change to your facial appearance. This is why losing more than one tooth has an even more severe effect. Over time, your face will completely conform to a sunken look. Besides the physical implications of losing bone mass, you’ll also have greater difficulty chewing and speaking correctly.

How do dental implants restructure my face?

Dental implants can repair your oral health and significantly improve or remedy your face’s bone issues. A dental implant’s three components support your jaw’s structure and prevent a substantial loss in your body’s bone balance.

1. Fixture: The fixture is embedded into your jawbone to replace your missing tooth’s root. Although it’s typically made from metal, other materials like titanium and ceramic can also be used. Sometimes, a dental professional will apply hydroxyapatite to speed the fusion of the implant to your jaw.
2. Abutment: The implant’s abutment secures the artificial tooth above the line and supports the crown. It usually follows after the fusion of the fixture to your jaw.
3. Prosthesis:  As the final component of the dental work, a prosthesis is a dental appliance that covers up tooth defects or replaces a missing tooth. It holds all sorts of dental implants, from crowns and bridges to dentures and veneers.

These components will ensure that your jaw doesn’t experience bone loss or shrinking gums. As your bone mass regenerates, your face’s natural shape and characteristics are restored.

Conclusion

Maintaining your face’s look involves a lot of physical and chemical factors, even in places that aren’t outright visible. Thanks to dental implants, your seemingly harmless missing tooth won’t lead to the deterioration of your facial structure. Remember to only receive dental implant treatments from professional dental experts. Otherwise, you may need to receive constant repairs or adjustments over time.

Entering a COVID-safe dental facility is one of our main priorities at H Williams & Associates. We offer a range of professional dentistry services, from teeth whitening to dental implant procedures. If you need a dental clinic in Orpington for a diagnosis and treatment of your oral concerns, call our helpline 01689 82363.