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If you’re missing one or more of your teeth, you’re not alone. In fact, about 178 million people living in the United States have at least one of their teeth missing. Because this is such a common problem, there are myriads of tooth replacement options out there.
At Bayside Dental Arts, Andrey Ilyabayev, DDS, and the rest of our team provide many of these tooth replacement options like dentures and bridges. However, Dr. Ilyabayev has 20 years of expertise in dental implants, which we consider the best solution for missing teeth.
Why are missing teeth a problem?
Just one missing tooth can start to compromise the structure of your mouth and its stability. A missing tooth can lead to:
- Shifting teeth
- Bite changes
- Excessive or uneven wear on remaining teeth
- Impaired speaking and chewing
- Temporomandibular joint disorders
In addition, your facial structure can also start to shift and change.
Over the course of your life, your body absorbs old bone cells and generates new ones. So when it comes to bone cells for your teeth and jaws, your body knows to create new bone cells when you bite and chew.
But, the unfortunate part is that if you are missing a tooth, your body no longer receives signals to produce new cells in that area of your jaw. Instead, it starts reabsorbing the unused jawbone.
As your bone begins to disappear, your bite and facial structure start to change, and you can end up with a collapsed mouth and recessed jaw. On top of all of that, your risk of losing more teeth increases.
Why are dental implants the answer?
When we think of our teeth, we usually focus on the area above the gumline since that’s what we see when we smile, and it’s what affects our appearance. However, two-thirds of your tooth is hidden. The root of your tooth extends deep into your jawbone in order to anchor your tooth and stimulate bone growth.
A dental implant is a great solution for a missing tooth since it so closely mimics the structure of an actual tooth. It has three parts: a titanium post, an abutment, and a crown. The post is anchored into your jawbone. The abutment then goes on top of the post before the crown is safely secured to the abutment. The only thing you’ll be able to see is the custom-made crown.
Some of the benefits of using dental implants to replace missing teeth include:
- Greater comfort
- A more secure fit and stability
- A natural-looking and functioning artificial tooth
Getting a dental implant is a lengthy process that takes several office visits to complete. Most of this time is spent waiting for your jawbone to fuse with your implant post.
However, once the site is healed and Dr. Ilyabayev attaches your custom-made crown, you have a new tooth that will last a lifetime. You can take care of your dental implant just like your natural teeth. Make sure to brush and floss twice a day and come in for regular dental cleanings.
If you’d like more information about dental implants or to see if you’d be a good candidate for the procedure, contact our office located in Bayside, New York. You can do this by giving us a call or by using our online booking tool to schedule an appointment.