Let’s Talk Turkey about Why You Should Be Thankful for Dental Implants

While teeth do a lot to help us communicate, enjoy meals, and stay healthy, it can be much too easy to take them for granted. Tooth loss is an unfortunately common problem that can lead to serious health issues like jawbone erosion or malnutrition if it goes unaddressed, but dental implants can replace missing teeth with comfortable, lifelike, and functional restorations. Here are a few reasons why we should be thankful for dental implants and how they can vastly improve a patient’s quality of life.

Dental Implants Rebuild Smiles

A person’s smile is one of the first things others notice about them, and the loss of a single tooth can make one much less eager to show off their grin. This is particularly unfortunate because people who smile frequently are generally seen as friendlier, more trustworthy, and more confident than those who don’t, which can open a plethora of social and professional opportunities for them. Since dental implants look just like real teeth, they can allow a person to enjoy a beautiful smile that they’ll be proud to show off after tooth loss.

Dental Implants Can Improve Nutrition

The things you eat and drink provide your body with the raw material it needs to grow, heal, and function, and tooth loss can make it exceedingly difficult to enjoy many nutritious foods that are tough or hard like raw fruits and veggies, fibrous, marbled steaks, and crunchy nuts. This can force many key nutrients out of a person’s diet, which can lead to malnutrition, or make it prohibitively difficult to chew thoroughly, which can lead to indigestion.

Unlike traditional restorations, dental implants restore a whopping 80% of a patient’s chewing power so they can enjoy the nutritious and diverse diet they need to stay healthy and strong.

Dental Implants Prevent Bone Loss

The jawbone receives the exercise it needs to stay healthy and strong during the chewing process, and the loss of a single tooth deprives it of some of this stimulation. After the tooth is lost, the bone tissue that supported it will begin to atrophy and recede, which can pull the neighboring teeth out of alignment and make them more vulnerable to infection and injury. If this results in further tooth loss, it can eventually leave the mouth with a sunken appearance.

Since dental implants are placed directly into the jaw and naturally fused with the surrounding bone tissue through the natural process of osseointegration, they restore the exercise the jawbone needs to stay strong. Replacing lost teeth with dental implants can prevent or even reverse this process of bone loss to preserve your oral health and appearance.

If we take a little time out of the Thanksgiving season to reflect on all dental implants do for us and the people we love, we can especially appreciate how they make it so much easier to enjoy a delicious turkey dinner. If you’re interested in the benefits dental implants can provide, consulting with your dentist can put you on the path to restoring your beautiful smile.

About the Practice

Vollo Dental Group provides remarkable oral health services to the Rochester community. Led by Drs. Joseph and Katherine Vollo, the staff ensures that each patient receives exemplary customer service as well as comfortable and effective treatments. Areas of expertise include general, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry in addition to dental implants. To schedule your dental implant consultation, contact the practice online or dial (585) 225-9114.