Artificial jaw in the dentist's office

3 Good Reasons to Replace Ill-Fitting Dentures with Dental Implants

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Even though more modern forms of smile restoration are available, 90 percent of the 23 million Americans with no teeth do have dentures. While dentures are a cost-effective and functional way to give you your smile back, dentures are not always the best-fitting solution for every individual. If you have dentures that don’t seem to fit so well, dental implants may be something you want to consider. While the investment in implants can be considerably more, by comparison, the outcome can be so valuable. Here is a look at good reasons to replace your ill-fitting dentures with dental implants.

1. Be more confident about your smile.

Even though well-made dentures can give you a certain degree of confidence, ill-fitting dentures can do the opposite. You may find yourself self-conscious about sharing your smile or worried about dentures shifting while you speak or eat in front of others. Dental implants give you prosthetic teeth that look more natural and stay firmly placed so you can smile, speak, and eat in public without any issues or concerns.

2. Protect the bones in your jawlines.

Did you know that once your teeth are pulled the bones in your jaws start to lose height? Over time, this can make it harder for you to be fitted with well-fitting dentures, but it can also change the shape of your face and mouth. Dental implants are anchored directly into the bones in your jaws, which helps them to retain their height and you retain the shape of your face.

3. Regain your chewing power.

Some estimates claim that dentures only give you a fraction of your usual chewing power. Dentures, especially those that don’t fit well, can shift and move in your mouth when you chew your food. You may even find there are foods you simply cannot eat. On the other hand, dental implants restore both biting and chewing power. The implants are stable, anchored into the jawline, which means they won’t move while you chew.

Talk to a Cosmetic Dentist in Beaumont About Dental Implants

Dental implants are a big decision, but you may find your life changed for the better once you take the leap. If you would like to know more about dental implants, reach out to us at Southern Oaks Dental Care in Beaumont, TX to schedule an appointment.

Am I Healthy Enough For a Dental Implant?

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Missing teeth can have a number of serious consequences to your oral health as well as your overall wellbeing. Dental implants are an excellent solution for treating this situation in many cases. Even so, not everyone is a good candidate for dental implants. To be considered a good candidate, you need to meet certain health requirements.

Why Do You Need to Be in Good Health for Dental Implants?

Certain health standards are required to be considered a candidate for dental implants due to the fact that the procedure to place dental implants is a surgical procedure. The implants are embedded below the gum tissues directly into the jawbone. General anesthesia is required for this procedure.

Who Is a Candidate for Dental Implants?

While you do not necessarily need to be in excellent health, you do need to have stable health. Certain conditions can cause complications related to the implant procedure or even cause your implants to fail. Such conditions include:

  • High blood pressure
  • Autoimmune disorders
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Arthritis

There is also concern regarding any other condition that causes chronic inflammation. Additionally, if you have periodontal disease, you may not be considered eligible for dental implants. This is because patients with advanced gum disease often have a reduced density in the jawbone. Since dental implants are placed in the jawbone, this can naturally present complications, including the high risk of implant failure.

Additionally, you need to be able to handle general anesthesia reasonably well. You will need to tell your dentist if you’ve ever undergone general anesthesia and whether you experienced any complications. Finally, you need to either be a non-smoker or you need to be willing to quit smoking. In addition to the fact that smoking makes healing from any kind of surgical procedure more difficult, smoking also contributes to teeth grinding. Therefore, if you are considering dental implants and you are a smoker, you need to make a commitment to quitting permanently.

Dental implants are a great solution to missing teeth. To take advantage of those benefits; however, you need to be a good surgical candidate. If you still have questions about dental implants and your possible candidacy for implants, please do not hesitate to contact us regarding your questions.

Dental Implants diagram

Benefits of Dental Implants

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Most people want a beautiful smile, but for a number of reasons, it’s not always possible without a little help from cosmetic dentistry. If you’ve experienced dental health issues and aren’t currently achieving your optimal smile, dental implants may be the right solution for you.

Let’s take a look at some benefits of dental implants:

Improved Aesthetics

Dental implants look and feel like your own teeth. If you’re missing a tooth or several teeth, dental implants can fill in the gaps and give you a full smile again. Our patients’ confidence and self-esteem often improve the moment they look in the mirror after their implants have been put into place.

Improved Speech

Missing or loose teeth can impair your speech. While you may have gotten used to impaired speech over time, it may actually be impeding your ability to communicate with people optimally. Dental implants remove the worry associated with poorly fitting dentures or missing teeth, enabling you to speak freely and confidently to anyone you come into contact with.

Enhanced Oral Health

Unlike some other cosmetic dentistry options, dental implants don’t require the removal or alteration of other teeth. This means the teeth surrounding your implant will be unaffected. Once your implant is put into place, you can go about brushing and flossing as you normally would.

Dental Implants diagram

Durability

Dental implants are designed to last for a very long time—sometimes, they even last an entire lifetime. They become a part of you, so you don’t have to worry about replacing or repairing them on a regular basis. You can simply consider your dental implants as your own teeth.

Convenience

With removable dentures, there’s a lot of upkeep (and often, discomfort) involved. With dental implants, you don’t have to worry about removing them, cleaning them, or caring for them (beyond standard brushing and flossing).

Prevention of Bone Loss

Empty spaces in your mouth after tooth loss can cause your jawbone to deteriorate. Because dental implants adhere to your bone structure, they replace lost teeth in a way that dentures can’t, enabling your jaw to sustain or stimulate bone growth.

Southern Oaks Dental Care is the cosmetic dentistry facility Beaumont, TX residents trust. If you’re ready to have the best smile possible, schedule an initial consultation with our team today!

Types of Dental Implants

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According to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, there are two major types of implants – endosteal and subperiosteal.
The Two Major Types of Dental Implants
Endosteal dental implants are implants that are put into the jawbone of the patient. […]

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