At some point, everyone experiences embarrassment and awkward feelings. For instance, you can look back at old photos of you and feel shame for your questionable hairstyle or fashion sense. Or you can exit the bathroom without realizing until later you have toilet paper on your shoe. However, one situation you don’t have to feel embarrassed about is getting dental implants.
Even if you hesitate to go into an implant consultation with your dentist and get started, these advanced tooth replacements are nothing you should be ashamed of. Here are three simple, yet valid reasons why!
Millions of People Have Lost Teeth.
Many adults don’t want to admit that they have missing permanent teeth, but it is more common than you might think. In fact, at least 178 million Americans have lost at least one, and more than 40 million have none left at all! In other words, you have plenty of company if you find yourself in this group.
As the top cause of adult tooth loss in the world, gum disease afflicts half of American adults over the age of 30, which means that plenty of adults (even those who aren’t extremely old) face serious risk of needing tooth replacements in the near future. Even though this problem may not be widely or comfortably discussed, you don’t have to feel shame for experiencing what many adults do.
Dental Implants Look and Feel Natural.
Perhaps you feel embarrassed at the thought of having prosthetic teeth that appear fake or obvious. Compared to dentures or bridges, however, dental implants most closely resemble natural tooth structure, including the root. As a result, they bond to the jawbone, just like real teeth, giving your implants plenty of strength. It may take you a little while to reacclimate to biting and chewing with stable teeth, but you should enjoy about 75 percent of your original biteforce, reminding you what it used to feel like.
Because implants stimulate the jawbone, this tissue retains its shape. In contrast, normal dentures and bridges only replace the visible crowns, allowing the jawbone to slowly deteriorate over time. That’s why those who have lost teeth tend to have an older, sunken look. With dental implants, you don’t have to worry about this notceable appearance.
Dental Implants Won’t Slip.
Is there anything more embarrassing than having your teeth slip out of place while you’re telling a story or eating with family or friends? Although traditional dentures start out fitting snugly against your gums, after a couple of years the jawbone will change to the point where the prosthetic becomes insecure. It can easily come out of position when you don’t want it to, attracting the wrong kind of attention.
On the other hand, implants are firmly integrated with the jawbone, which means they will remain stable and reliable. As a result, you can have less anxiety about your smile.
While you may still encounter embarrassment after you get them, dental implants don’t have to cause it for you. You can confidently move forward with your replacement teeth, knowing they’ll perform wonderfully and complete your smile!
About the Author
After graduating from dental school, Dr. Mark Guillory served in the United States Navy Dental Corp and has gained additional advanced training through the Carl Misch Implant Institute and the Las Vegas Institute. At New U Dentures & Implants, he provides general care but excels with dental implant cases, even complex ones! If you would like to learn more about dental implants, you may schedule a consultation with him at our Cleveland, TX office by calling 281-592-6398 or visiting our Contact Us page here.