If you have recently lost one of your teeth, you know how difficult adjusting to your new smile can be. While the effect on your looks can be unsettling, the threat to your oral health of untreated tooth loss can be even worse. This is why receiving professional treatment for your missing tooth offers benefits beyond the cosmetic enhancement of your appearance. While you regain a full smile, a dental prosthetic helps you prevent serious further harm to your remaining teeth and jaw. Your Cerritos, CA dentist offers placement of a dental implant to return your bite and mimic a natural tooth! This treatment secures directly into the bone of your jaw to provide support for years to come.
How Losing A Tooth Affects Your Health
Whenever you lose one of your teeth, the remaining neighboring teeth risk drifting into the open gap and becoming loose. This misaligns your once healthy bite, creating the potential for multiple oral health issues. When you experience misalignment, certain teeth take uneven pressure of your bite and prematurely wear down their enamel. As enamel erodes, you become susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease. Without this protective white layer, your teeth can take on a more yellow look as well. You may develop issues with your jaw joints and muscles as it moves in unnatural positions to accommodate your gap.
Tooth loss also affects the health of your jawbone. When you bite, your tooth transfers force through its root into your jaw. This force stimulates nerves in the bone which signal the brain to send nutrients for continued bone maintenance. So when you lose your tooth, you lose the signal that the bone itself is in use. Your jaw may then deteriorate as a process called resorption sends its minerals to other parts of the body. Fortunately, the placement of a dental implant can restore the signal of your bite and prevent shrinking of your jaw.
Placing A Dental Implant
We can examine the health of your mouth to determine if you are an appropriate candidate for a dental implant. Once approved, we will schedule a surgery to insert a titanium post directly into your jawbone. Over the following months, as your oral tissues heal, they will fuse directly to the post and hold it securely in place. An abutment at the end of your implant allows us to place a prosthetic and mimic the visible portion of your missing tooth. A dental crown can replace an individual tooth, while multiple lost teeth may be best served by an implant-retained denture.
Speak With Your Cerritos, CA Dentist Office About Replacing Your Missing Tooth With A Dental Implant!
To prevent the harms of tooth loss, a dental implant can restore critical function to your bite. This solution stimulates your jawbone for its continued support. For more information on this treatment, contact your Cerritos, CA dentist’s office at 562-584-4082. We serve patients from all surrounding communities such as Lakewood, Long Beach, and Buena Park as well.
