Dental implants have long been renowned for the benefits they can bring to a patient’s self-image and oral health, but many people may not be aware of all the good they can do for their overall well-being. Because they look and work just like real teeth, dental implants can help a patient feel better, stay healthier, and live longer. Here are a few ways that dental implants can help extend your lifespan.
Dental Implants Can Help You Eat a Varied and Balanced Diet
The human body needs a wide variety of foods to get all of the nutrients it needs to stay healthy. While traditional dental restorations such as dentures and bridges can be excellent options for many patients, they are limited in the types of foods they can chew. They can’t handle crunchy or chewy foods, meaning that the patient may have to forgo many nutritious foods such as cuts of meat, nuts, and snappy fruits and vegetables. In some cases, these patients must take special care to avoid malnutrition.
Dental implants have no such issues. Since they are implanted directly into the jawbone, they have a sturdy foundation that allows them to bite, tear, and chew steaks, pistachios, apples, celery, carrots, and more. This helps dental implant patients to enjoy a varied, tasty, and nutritious diet that can keep their bodies healthy for decades to come.
Dental Implants Protect Your Oral Health
After you lose a tooth, the part of the jawbone that supported it loses the exercise it provided. This leads it to atrophy and recede, weakening the jaw overall and perhaps even pulling the neighboring teeth out of alignment as it sinks. This makes these teeth more susceptible to injury and harder to clean, which can lead to infections that cause further tooth loss. If the issue is not addressed, this can lead to a vicious cycle of further tooth loss.
While bridges and dentures can restore a smile, the space between them and the gums can provide a safe haven for food debris and nasty oral bacteria that cause gum disease. If this space is not properly cleaned, the gums can become infected, which, if left untreated, may increase the patient’s risk of major health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and dementia.
Dental implants resolve both these issues. Since they are surgically placed and naturally fused to the jawbone, they provide it with the exercise it needs to stay healthy and strong while leaving no space between themselves and the gums. This can prevent or reverse the process of bone loss in the jaw and eliminate the possibility of food debris and bacteria being protected underneath a restoration.
While dental implants are considered the pinnacle of modern tooth restoration techniques, they still require proper oral hygiene in order to be successful and stay healthy. Consulting with your dentist can determine if you are a good candidate for dental implants.
About the Practice
Family Dental Associates of Spring Hill provides the community of Spring Hill, TN with the best dental care available. Led by Drs. Emily Allen and Brandon Jewell, the staff ensures that each patient receives top-notch oral health services in a clean and friendly environment. Areas of expertise include general, pediatric, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as dental implant services. For more information on what dental implants can do for your overall health, contact the office online or dial (615) 302-1414.