About 120 million Americans are missing at least one tooth, and nearly 36 million are missing all of them. But about 3 million of them know something the others don’t — dental implants are the best way to replace missing teeth!
Dr. Woo Young Lee and Dr. Sean Kim here at Grace Dental Group helps their San Francisco patients regain the confidence and functionality they once had with durable, reliable, and permanent dental implants. Here are five reasons they’re the best choice for replacing your missing teeth.
1. Better function
When it comes to replacing your missing tooth (or teeth), you have many options that each comes with pros and cons. But only one choice restores the full function of your natural teeth — dental implants. That’s because dental implants actually have a “root” that connects to your jaw bone and anchors it securely.
Our team implants a titanium screw into your jawbone, where the two eventually fuse together. We also attach a crown — your new tooth — to the root. Your new crown is the only part that will be visible, and it will look just like your other teeth.
This means you can eat all your favorite foods without worrying about your dental work slipping out of place. And caring for your dental implants is just as easy as caring for your natural teeth, no special solutions or extra cleaning steps needed. It also means you can speak clearly and smile confidently at all times.
2. No adhesives or slippage
Removable appliances like dentures can certainly cover your gaps, but they have a clear downside — adhesives and slippage. Whenever you eat and speak, which is pretty much all day, you run the risk of your dentures moving or falling out.
But dental implants don’t need messy adhesives to keep them in place. Once we implant your new tooth, it’s secure. You’ll have no worries about your implant slipping mid-sentence or while you’re snacking on your favorite nuts or chips.
3. Looks and feels more natural
It’s not often that you can find a replacement part for your car that looks and feels exactly like the original, but when you do, you’re elated. That’s how our patients feel when they get dental implants. That’s because implants are carefully constructed to fit your mouth and blend seamlessly with your surrounding teeth.
Our team matches your new implants to your natural teeth in size, color, and shape. Once they’re in place, nobody will be able to tell which teeth are natural and which ones are implants. And when you talk and eat, implants feel like they’ve always been a part of your mouth.
4. Healthier for your mouth
Most people think that replacing teeth to fix gaps is merely a cosmetic choice. But that couldn’t be farther from the truth. When you have missing teeth, your oral health declines over time. Dental implants prevent these issues by:
- Stopping bone loss and preserving existing jawbone
- Keeping adjacent teeth from shifting out of place
- Halting tooth decay and gum disease of nearby teeth
- Offering a cavity-free solution
- Eliminating the need to alter neighboring teeth
- Reducing the need for future dental work
Implants also help you retain the natural shape of your face as you get older, so your skin doesn’t sag into the vacant spaces of missing teeth.
5. Stronger than your natural teeth
Your natural teeth are strong — dental implants are stronger! With proper care, you can expect your new implants to last a lifetime. So go ahead, eat an apple, bite into a carrot, and gnaw on that cob of corn. Your implants are made for it.
If you’re missing one or more teeth, dental implants are one of the best things you can do for your oral health and your self-confidence.
If you have questions about whether you’re a good candidate for dental implants, contact us by calling (415) 921-8867 to set up an appointment. Start your journey towards a great smile today!