For anyone who is having problems with losing their teeth, the term “dental implant” may have come up in conversation. How do you know if they are right for you?
Am I a Candidate?
Technically, if you have lost a tooth then you are a candidate for dental implants. However, your health at the time will be important as well. For those who have cancer or radiation to the jaw among other conditions, dental implants might not be the best idea. It’s important to let your doctor know what your health is like.
Consequences of Missing Your Teeth
There are some down sides to not having your teeth- the first and most obvious being that your smile will not look the same and you may not wish to smile without all your teeth. This can really mess with your self confidence or how you interact with others.
Non-cosmetic issues can include pain when eating. Whether it’s on one side or both, missing teeth can make chewing and eating painful, especially for crunchy or solid foods. This could even lead to poor nutrition choices, affecting your overall health.
One that people don’t think of very often is bone loss, which can occur in your jaw once you lose your teeth. Besides any pain this could cause, this could change the structure of your face. When your jaw diminishes, it could cause the collapsed look which is strikingly different than those that still have a normal shaped jaw.
Waiting to get work done on your teeth also makes it harder for your dental surgeon to help give a long term solution. There needs to be a certain amount of bone in place before the implants can be successfully installed.
It’s important to talk to your doctors about your options with dental implants. If you have any questions about our dental services or dentists in Charlotte, feel free to contact Modern Family Dental Care today!
