There are many reasons why a person may have missing teeth. Teeth can fall out due to trauma, such as a hard collision in sports or in any other sort of accident. Teeth can also fall out due to decay, and even the natural aging process can result in missing teeth. The good news is that a visit to your periodontist can give you options to restore your smile and get the function of your teeth back. One such option to fight the risks of missing teeth is dental implants.
The Risks of Missing Teeth
Missing teeth present additional health risks. The teeth help to support the jaw bone through their roots. When even one tooth is missing, the jaw bone is at risk of deterioration. As it starts to deteriorate, the healthy teeth surrounding the missing tooth are at risk of falling out as well. In addition, missing any of your teeth can make it more difficult to chew food and speak. If your tooth was lost due to trauma, the exposed gum could also be at risk for infection, which could result in emergency treatment.
Benefits to Dental Implants
Though they sound intimidating at first, dental implants offer a number of benefits that get your life back on track. To start with, the implants consist of a titanium post that is embedded into the jaw bone. This supports the bone and prevents deterioration. In addition, the post is securely in place, which means your teeth do not slide around. You can still eat all of your favorite foods and talk normally without worrying about awkward slippage. In addition, caring for dental implants is the same as caring for real teeth – and they can last for decades or even a lifetime with the right care.
Find Out If Implants Are Right for You
Dental implants are an amazing and effective solution to missing teeth, but you first need to make sure you are a good candidate for the procedure. To learn more, contact our office at Red Rock Periodontics & Implantology in Las Vegas, NV to schedule a consultation with periodontist Dr. Curry Leavitt today.