Tooth replacement is not just about personal appearance. It's about total oral health and smile function. At Smiles 4 U Family Dentistry in Charlotte, NC, dental implants replace missing teeth. Dr. Nelly Matos and Dr. Jose Arocho use these excellent prosthetics to complete smiles so well it's almost as if nothing ever happened.
A missing tooth
After dental extraction, you face several problems--poor speech, reduced biting and chewing, and changes in jaw bone size and shape. Dear Doctor says the jaw bone quickly shrinks in size once the natural tooth is no longer there to exercise it. With extensive tooth loss, the bone really takes a hit, as does your facial appearance.
Dental implants change everything
While conventional dentures and bridgework are fine in some cases, many patients really benefit from tooth replacement with single-tooth implants or implant-retained bridges or dentures. Dental implants are small screws placed surgically into the jaw where natural teeth once resided. Because they are titanium, the jaw bone bonds to it quickly and irreversibly through osseointegration, a process discovered in Europe back in the 1950s.
When the bonding process is finished, the dentist attaches a post and crown in the case of a single implant. For multiple implants, a bridge or denture may be permanently mounted, thereby giving the patient a smile that looks great and functions exceptionally well.
Advantages of dental implants
Dental implants improve and maintain your jaw bone and gum tissue. Other tooth replacements cannot do that. Plus, because you do not take them out of your mouth, they are stable, sturdy, and maintained just as natural teeth are. That's right: brush twice a day, floss, and see your dentist at Smiles 4 U Family Dentistry twice a year for exams and professional cleanings.
Finally, most people enjoy their new teeth for years--even for the rest of their lives, says the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. Yes, dental implant procedures really are one and done dental services.
For more information...
Phone Dr. Nelly Matos or Dr. Jose Arocho for a detailed consultation on how dental implants could help your smile. Phone Smiles 4 U Family Dentistry in Charlotte, NC, today: (704) 549-1199.