While deciding which product to buy, you have to weigh whether certain upgrades are worthwhile. Do you really need or want all the bells and whistles for your car, or would something more standard work just as well? In many cases, the decision ultimately comes down to the individual’s needs and priorities. However, regarding your choice of tooth replacements, dental implants often prove far superior to traditional dentures for almost everyone, but what makes attaching prosthetic teeth to implants so much better overall? Check out just a few ways implants can impact your life for the better.
Impact #1: More Security and Stability
Although modern dentures have become far more comfortable and custom than ever before, they still pale in comparison to implant dentures. Even today, normal dentures rely on suction or a tight fit to stay in place. At first, you may be able to eat various foods, but over time, your teeth will start to fit less snugly, occasionally slipping out of position and weakening your bite.
On the other hand, dental implants are surrounded by jawbone and keep this tissue strong. In other words, your implant dentures aren’t going anywhere anytime soon!
Impact #2: Ability to Eat and Feel Healthier
With a increasingly weaker bite, you can find it difficult to eat nutritious foods like raw vegetables, whole grains, fruit, and more. You can be tempted to buy softer, easier-to-chew foods; unfortunately, these options tend to contain a lot of unhealthy ingredients, including sugar, carbohydrates, and more. Too much of these foods can lead to increased risk of serious health issues, which can not only shorten your lifespan but also hinder your quality of life.
With their secure hold on your restored teeth, dental implants enable you to make healthy choices in your diet. You are free to make better decisions, potentially lengthening your life expectancy and making your life more enjoyable in almost every way.
Impact #3: More Confidence and Better Mental Health
When you have unstable teeth, you probably hesitate to smile, laugh, speak, or eat in front of others. After all, no one wants to have an embarrassing situation where their teeth obviously slip or come out! As a result, those who have lost teeth (and even have dentures) don’t smile as often as they used to, but this deprives others of joy who may need a friendly smile. In addition, it robs your brain of happy hormones triggered when you smile. In other words, you don’t give yourself a mood boost or a push in your mental health when you avoid smiling.
In contrast, when you know your smile looks and feels natural, you have an easier time sharing it. You and those around you can feel happier, and you can have a better outlook on life in general.
These are just a few examples of the powerful differences implants can make. Ultimately, you as the patient must decide if you want these kinds of “bells and whistles” for your replacements, but when you see implants’ benefits, you must admit these upgrades may be completely worth the extra time, effort, and money.
About the Author
Dr. Jeff Lee at Muskingum Valley Oral Surgery has an extensive background in dental implants. In addition to earning his dental degree from The Ohio State University College of Dentistry and completing an oral surgery residency at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, he currently serves as a part-time faculty member at the university and successfully defended a master’s thesis with his own original research. If you have questions about dental implants, you can schedule a consultation with Dr. Lee by reaching out to his office online or calling the Marietta office at 740-236-9392.