Dental Implants: Why They are the Gold Standard for Replacing Missing Teeth

Your teeth are tough and once they come in, they're designed to go the distance with you. But sometimes their journey is a harder one, and decay or trauma requires that they be replaced. While there are plenty of options for replacing missing teeth, none come close to dental implants in terms of form and function.

At The Dental Touch, we want our patients in Oakland, California, to have access to the very best in dental care to ensure long-term oral health. As part of our comprehensive services, we offer dental implants, which mimic your natural teeth right down to their roots.

Here's a look at why dental implants are the gold standard for replacing missing teeth.

Going bone deep

One of the primary reasons that dental implants rise above other replacement options is that they take their place in your line of teeth both above your gum line and below. When you lose a tooth, you lose much more than is visible to the eye. Below your gum line, your tooth's root goes into your jawbone, where it's anchored in the bone for stability.

This bone is living tissue and responds to use. When you chew, you send a signal to your body that the area is active, so it responds by constantly rebuilding and repairing the bone as needed to keep up its strength.

When you lose the root of your tooth, your body no longer receives a signal that there's any activity in the area, so it stops sending resources for rebuilding and repair. As a result, the bone begins to deteriorate, which can cause problems in your neighboring teeth as the bone caves in. This can also have an effect on your outward appearance, giving you a sunken-in look.

With a dental implant, we insert a titanium post into your jawbone that, for all intents and purposes, becomes your new root. The existing bone in the area grows up and around the new addition, fusing it into place for superior stability. And because the bone remains active with the new post, your body works to keep the post in place with strong and healthy bone tissue.

Holding the line

As we mentioned, when you lose a tooth, it can have a cascading effect throughout your mouth. A missing tooth rarely remains a local problem because it causes your neighboring teeth to loosen and shift out place. Ultimately, a missing tooth puts your surrounding teeth in peril.

By replacing your missing tooth (or teeth) with a dental implant, you maintain the positions of its counterparts, keeping all of your teeth in line to prevent larger problems down the road.

A stable solution that lasts a lifetime

Because a dental implant replaces your tooth from your jawbone on up, its stability is head and shoulders above the other options, including bridges and dentures. While still viable solutions, these dental devices can shift around, especially removable partial dentures.

Which brings us to the point where the rubber really meets the road with dental implants - they're designed to last a lifetime. Since the post becomes fully integrated into your jawbone, there's no reason why a dental implant would need to be replaced.

Of course, the custom crown that we place on top of the post might need a tuneup after 10-15 years, but the foundation of your dental implant is as solid as any natural tooth, if not more, thanks to the titanium.

Cleaning up

Unlike other replacement options that need a little extra TLC, your dental implant takes up its position seamlessly among your existing teeth and requires no higher standard of care. Simply go about your normal daily routine, which we hope includes brushing at least twice a day, flossing once a day, and rinsing after you eat. And don't forget your regular visits with us for professional cleanings and checkups.

To learn more about dental implants, please give us a call or use the easy online scheduling tool on this website to set up an appointment.