How dental implants preserve Lawrence smiles

By Dr. Les Miller

The benefits of replacing missing teeth

There was a time when losing a tooth could ruin your smile. Fortunately, we have more attractive, durable, and comfortable solutions than ever. With the high quality dental care provided by Drs. Les and Kelly Miller, there is no need for residents of Lawrence to live with gaps in their smiles.

The loss of a tooth, or several teeth, can have a negative impact on your health and quality of life in several ways. If a front tooth is lost, the most immediately noticeable effect is an embarrassing gap in your smile. You are also likely to have difficulty pronouncing certain words, because the tongue presses against the teeth to form some sounds. A tooth lost toward the back of your mouth will have less impact on your appearance and speech, but these things are just the beginning. Missing teeth can increase your risk for decay and gum disease, as well as leading to a loss of mass in the jawbone.

The benefits of dental implants

You have several options for replacing missing teeth. With modern materials, and the proper cosmetic techniques, bridges and removable dentures can be designed to look exactly like natural teeth. However, they may not always function exactly like real teeth. That is because teeth extend below the gum line, where they are firmly rooted in the jawbone. Traditional restorations only replace the visible, upper part of the tooth.

Only dental implants replace tooth roots, providing the potential to be as stable as natural teeth. Additionally, implants help preserve the health of the jawbone, by mimicking the action of a tooth root. In fact, the bone tissue does not seem to differentiate between a natural tooth and an implant. New bone cells develop, attaching themselves directly to the implant surface.

Due to the rock-solid foundation that implants provide, you will be able to eat anything that you want, and never worry about a loose appliance falling out. Implants mimic the way that nature creates and supports teeth. Our patients tell us that the result looks and feels so natural that they sometimes forget they have implants.

If you have a gap in your smile, call us at (888) 993-1707 and schedule an appointment to find out if you are a good candidate for implants.