For decades, conventional dentures and bridges have been the go-to choice for patients who have lost their natural teeth. These removable options have their drawbacks, though. The most notable drawback is they’re not always comfortable. No matter how well a set of dentures may fit when they’re first put in, they can stop fitting well because of the changing nature of gum and bone tissue.
Today, there’s a new standard of care when it comes to replacing lost teeth. William M. Schneider, DDS, offers dental implants. Dental implants more closely recreate the normal interaction between tooth and bone, creating a strong and interactive tooth replacement that comes the closest to mimicking real teeth.
The drawbacks of dentures and bridges
A tooth has a root — which is surrounded by the jawbone — and a crown, which is the visible part you see.
Dentures and bridges only replicate the crown portion of your tooth. With dentures, porcelain crowns are fitted to a plate made from a mold of your gum tissue. The denture plate rests on your gum tissue, sometimes with the use of special adhesives.
With bridges, a porcelain crown — which is anchored to nearby teeth — fills the gap of your missing tooth.
In both cases, though, a major problem remains: Your gum tissue and jawbone that used to have teeth are still empty. This is a problem because the roots of your teeth stimulate growth and regeneration in your jawbone. When teeth are lost, your jawbone can start to degenerate since it no longer has an active role in keeping the roots of your missing teeth anchored.
The advantages of dental implants
Dental implants are the only tooth-replacement method that replicates the interaction between your teeth and your jawbone. Once complete, an implant comes closest to the experience of having natural teeth. They’re permanent, and you care for them exactly like your other teeth. You brush them and floss them and eat like you normally would.
With implants, the bone of your jaw is maintained over time, and there is no facial collapse as you get older. The titanium implant integrates with your jawbone, becoming a permanent part of your mouth.
There are even hybrid systems that can combine implants and dentures, where your plate clips onto implants for a secure fit that you can’t get with regular dentures.
Dr. Schneider has more than 25 years of experience with dental implants, making him the obvious choice if you’re looking for a permanent solution to lost teeth. To learn more, book an appointment online or over the phone with William M. Schneider, DDS today.