I have always envied those around me who seem to always have perfect smiles without even trying, because I feel like I was born with "bad teeth." While my teeth are in great shape now, it is only because I take great care to visit the dentist every six months for a check-up and cleaning and maintain good oral hygiene habits at home. While I used to get a lot of cavities, even though I thought I was doing "everything right" to keep them away, I am proud to say that I have been cavity-free for a couple of years now! I put a lot of research into what daily habits can wreak havoc on my teeth, and I thought it would be a shame not to share what has helped me with others who need the advice. I plan to post many oral health tips on my new blog!
If you're missing a tooth and researching options to replace it, chances are you've heard of dental implants. What you might not know is that over time, dental implants feel and act like real teeth. Rather than just bridging a gap between teeth using existing teeth, dental implants are supported by your jaw bones and support your bones in return. Here's how dental implants use and support your jaw the way it was designed to be used.
How Teeth Roots Work
When your body grows its first teeth, it lays down roots that go all the way from the gums to deep inside your jaw. This root allows you to feel discomfort, supplies vital nutrients to the tooth, and acts like an anchor, holding the tooth in its proper position.
How Dental Implant Installations Work
The titanium post of the dental implant that goes into the jaw is designed to be an artificial tooth root. While it doesn't need to supply nutrients to the artificial crown that replaces your visible tooth, it keeps the crown in place and anchors it there.
Symbiotic Relationship
Dental implants are unique because they take advantage of your bone's natural healing properties. When bone undergoes a trauma, like having a tooth knocked out, it gradually grows back to cover the hole. When a dental implant is inserted where the tooth used to be, the bone grows around the dental implant in a process called osseointegration, holding it snugly in place like the original tooth's root.
However, the ingenuity of dental implants doesn't stop there. While bone is capable of growth, the bone in your jaw needs regular pressure from activities like chewing to stay strong and dense. If you lose a tooth and no more pressure is being applied to the area, your bones can become thin and brittle over time.
Once the dental implant is in place and the bone forms around it, the regular pressure exerted on the implant from chewing will help the bone to strengthen and stay strong like it should. This will keep neighboring teeth from experiencing too little or too much pressure, too, keeping your overall jaw healthy and strong.
Bridges are a good option for some dental patients, but dental implants work with your body's natural abilities to keep your jaw healthy and strong. If you're missing a tooth or two, dental implants are one of the best methods of replacing them.
Share26 January 2016
