Unlock Stronger Bones and Healthier Gums with Dental Implants in Calgary
When you lose teeth, your facial structure can slowly weaken because your jaw bone starts to deteriorate without the teeth roots to support it. Just like muscles need regular exercise to stay strong, your bones need regular use to prevent them from shrinking. This lack of stimulation can eventually lead to significant bone loss and facial collapse, which is sometimes seen in people who wear dentures.
While dental implants help by transferring the force of chewing directly to the bones, dentures don’t. Dentures spread the force over your gums, which can lead to discomfort and damage since gums aren’t made to handle that kind of stress. Because dentures don’t stimulate the bone, they don’t help with the natural bone remodeling process, where old bone cells are replaced by new ones. This results in the bone shrinking over time, causing your dentures to fit poorly and needing replacements.
In Calgary, dental implants offer a solution to this problem. The implants, made of titanium rods, are placed into the jaw bone where they act like tooth roots, integrating with your facial structure. This process supports the bone and prevents it from shrinking. Whether it’s for anchoring dentures, replacing a single tooth, or installing a complete dental prosthesis, implants are a versatile option.
If you’ve had a recent tooth extraction, the implant can go directly into the existing socket. If the tooth has been missing for a while, your dentist will create a new socket in the bone for the implant. Once placed, the bone gradually grows around the implant, fusing with it over several weeks and making it a permanent part of your jaw.
During the healing period, which can take up to six months, the implants provide a stable anchor for your dentures, false teeth, or prosthetics, distributing chewing forces evenly across the bone. This prevents the kind of gum pain and wear associated with traditional dentures.
An alternative to implants is a dental bridge, which involves attaching a false tooth to crowns on the neighboring teeth. While this can be a good option, it comes with its own challenges. The teeth around the bridge must be drilled down to fit the crowns, and bridges can make dental hygiene more complicated. You can’t floss between a bridge and the false tooth easily, which can lead to issues like cavities and gum disease.
In contrast, dental implants allow for easy cleaning as there’s space around the false tooth for dental floss. Plus, they look very natural. Your dentist will shape the implants to match the size and shape of your surrounding teeth, ensuring a seamless appearance.
Overall, dental implants in Calgary provide a durable, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing solution to missing teeth, helping maintain the health of your jaw bone and the look of your smile.