What is implant dentistry and how can it benefit me?

If you have lost a tooth or are missing several teeth, you need to understand that missing teeth can lead to a number of dental problems and general health problems. A missing tooth or missing teeth can lead to speech impediments and self-consciousness. If a person is missing multiple teeth, it may affect their facial features around the cheeks and lips, causing them to appear sunken in. A person with missing teeth will likely experience problems chewing certain foods or, in extreme cases, food in general. Missing teeth can also cause the misalignment of the teeth surrounding the tooth gap; in severe cases, it may even cause the jaw to become misaligned, leading to any number of painful dental problems. While people often rely on dentures and bridgework to treat these problems, both of these options have their limitations. For instance, both dentures and bridges can slip or come lose at inopportune moments, causing a great deal of embarrassment. Sometimes the dentures may not look particularly good. Implant dentistry (dental implants) presents a much sturdier and more permanent solution for missing teeth. In implant dentistry, artificial tooth roots made from titanium are surgically placed into the jawbone and gum tissue. These dental implants will be held securely in place after a period of healing and joining to the gums and bone. Once this healing period has been completed, the dental implants will be capped with a natural-looking dental crown, an artificial tooth that will blend seamlessly with the rest of your surrounding teeth. Rather than individual dental crowns, your dentist may find it a good idea to have dentures or bridgework supported by dental implants. This will ensure they do not slip and are strongly set in place much like real teeth. Some people may not be good candidates for implant dentistry, such as people who have undergone radiation therapy in the mouth or who have insufficient jawbone density. In the latter case, your dentist can recommend bone grafting surgery. This will help patients build up the necessary jawbone to receive dental implants. To learn more about dental implants as well as tooth whitening, sedation dentistry, Invisalign, and more, it is important to visit a skilled cosmetic dentist near Memphis, Tennessee.