If you or someone you know has lost teeth, then you may be familiar with the importance of replacing those teeth to restore proper mouth function. With such a variety of options for replacing lost teeth, however, how do you know which is the right choice for you? Your dentist can answer that after a thorough examination, but regardless of the option that best fits your situation, you may want to consider enhancing your dental prosthetic by anchoring it to one or more dental implants. As an experienced dentist in Astoria, Dr. Jeffrey Leibowitz understands that some patients may not feel as though their dentures or dental bridges provide the same stability as their natural teeth, and offers dental implants to address this common grievance.
Understanding Tooth Loss
To understand the importance of dental implant restorations, you must first understand the long-lasting effects of tooth loss. Filling the gaps in your smile can help return your confidence and prevent your remaining teeth from shifting to take up the slack. However, traditional dental restorations do not address the loss of a tooth’s root, which can have devastating effect on your smile’s foundation.
The roots of your teeth are embedded in and supported by your jawbone. When you bite or chew, the stimulated roots signal your body to supply your jaw with enough nutrients to nourish them. When the root is lost and the stimulation stops, your body responds accordingly by your jaw’s allotted nutrients. Unchecked, the deficiency can lead to jawbone deterioration, and over time your jaw will lose its ability to support the rest of your teeth. As your jawbone shrinks, custom-designed dental prosthetics, such as dentures that are matched to the shape of your dental ridge, may no longer be as comfortable as they were designed.
A Complete Solution
A dental implant is shaped like a tooth’s root and surgically inserted into your jawbone. It’s crafted out of biocompatible titanium, so your jawbone accepts it as genuine and fuses to it. Once healed, the implant effectively becomes a prosthetic root that can be used to attach your replacement teeth, creating a total restoration of what was lost. To learn more about dental implants and whether they are the right choice for you, schedule a dental implant consultation as soon as possible with your Astoria dentist. For scheduling, call our Queens dental office at (718) 728-8320. We proudly serve patients from Astoria, Queens, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the surrounding communities.
