When patients receive dental implants to replace one or more lost teeth, the excitement often results mainly from the immediately improved comfort and stability of their replacement teeth. Implant posts, which are essentially prosthetic roots that are inserted into your jawbone, act as anchors for a replacement crown, bridge, or denture. Unlike conventional prostheses, they give your replacement teeth the ability to more closely mimic the appearance and functions of your healthy, natural teeth. This means they also do more for your smile in the long run than other prosthetic options can, making them a lifeline for patients who’ve lost one or more teeth.
Supporting Your Replacement Teeth
A conventional dental bridge is bonded to your healthy, natural teeth closest to the gap in your smile. While effective, this method may leave room for your bridge to eventually shift, causing discomfort and making it harder to bite and chew properly. Dentures rely on safe but potent adhesives and clasps (in the case of partial dentures), which can also leave room for movement over time. By contrast, dental implants anchor your prosthesis in the same way that healthy teeth are anchored by their roots.
Strengthening Your Smile’s Foundation
In addition to keeping your replacement teeth steady, dental implants also prevent bridge and denture slippage by addressing one of the most significant causes behind it—the changing shape of your dental ridges following tooth loss. After losing a tooth root, your jawbone receives fewer nutrients, which can cause it to lose mass and density. Dental implants prevent this jawbone degradation by replacing the lost root with a lifelike implant post, which further improves the comfort and stability of your new smile.
Improve the Life of Your Smile with Dental Implants
Dental implants provide a more stable and comfortable support system for your crown, bridge, or denture, but they also improve the long-term health and integrity of your smile for life. To learn more, schedule an appointment as soon as possible by calling Lathrop Dental Center in Katy, TX at 832-437-3849. We proudly welcome patients and families from Katy, Fulshear, Weston Lakes, Simonton, Richmond, Rosenberg, Brookshire, Wallis, Orchard, Cypress, Sealy, Columbus, and all surrounding communities.
