If you’re missing a tooth, you’ve got plenty of company. According to the American College of Prosthodontists, about 120 million American adults are missing at least one tooth, putting them at risk of cavities, gum problems, and — perhaps most surprising — additional tooth loss.

Dental implants provide an exceptional solution for missing teeth if you’d rather not get removable dentures. With implants, you can replace one or several teeth, and they offer some pretty remarkable benefits.

Phillip Halper, DDS, and the team at Yardley Family Dental work hard to help patients in Yardley, Pennsylvania, maintain optimal oral health and feel more confident about the way their smile looks. Dental implants play a big role in achieving both of those goals. Here are five ways dental implants could benefit you.

1. Improving your smile aesthetics

Probably one of the most obvious benefits, dental implants can dramatically improve the way your smile looks. Missing teeth make your smile look worn and uncared for, and when you’re missing one or more teeth, you look older.

Custom dental implants are designed to match your tooth shape and shade, blending in beautifully with the rest of your teeth. This is a big reason why so many people turn to implants when it’s time to replace one or several missing teeth.

2. Maintaining your bite balance

Even a single missing tooth can throw off your bite balance and mechanics, resulting in an uneven bite that can lead to jaw strain, facial pain, headaches, and tooth wear. If your bite balance is off, you’re also more prone to developing temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, a jaw problem that can involve significant discomfort. 

Every implant is made individually, with contours designed to match the shape of your natural teeth. As a result, implants can maintain your bite balance, along with your comfort and your quality of life.

3. Avoiding embarrassing slippage

Dentures are a traditional choice for replacing missing teeth, and while they’re a good choice for many people, a lot of patients prefer the security offered by dental implants. Implants use a post that’s embedded in your jawbone. That secure attachment keeps the prosthetic tooth firmly in place, preventing slippage and supporting normal tooth function.

Dentures, on the other hand, rest on your gums and depend on frequent adjustments and sometimes adhesive to stay put. Despite that, they can still slip, especially if they’re not adjusted often enough. Slippage can be embarrassing when it happens in public, and it can also create sores that may become infected.

4. Preventing future tooth loss

Like other bones in your body, your jawbone is continually replacing old bone tissue with new, healthy tissue. But that replacement cycle doesn't happen automatically. Tissue replacement depends on stimulation, and in your jaws, that stimulation comes from your tooth roots. 

When a tooth root is missing, there’s no stimulation in that part of your jaw, and that means the bone replacement cycle slows down or stops. Over time, your jawbone becomes thin and weak enough that it can’t support other teeth in that area. As those tooth roots weaken, tooth loss can occur.

The post of your dental implant acts like a tooth root, providing the stimulation your jawbone needs to repair and replenish itself. Your surrounding teeth also have the support they need to stay healthy and secure, warding off potential tooth loss in the future.

5. Boosting your self-confidence

You can’t overlook the emotional impact of tooth placement. Because dental implants look, feel, and work like your natural teeth, it shouldn’t be any surprise that replacing a missing tooth with an implant can substantially improve your self-confidence. If you don’t feel self-conscious about your smile, you can socialize more comfortably, too.

Learn more about dental implants

Dental implants are popular among many patients with missing teeth, but they may not be the best solution for you. In addition to implants, Dr. Halper offers traditional dentures and bridges, so every patient can feel confident in their care.

To learn more about implants or any of the services we provide at Yardley Family Dental, call 724-271-8087 or book an appointment online today.