How Dental Implants Can Improve Your Life

Dental implants have completely revolutionized the way dentists replace missing teeth. Where partial or full sets of dentures used to be the primary options for replacing missed teeth, now, patients can enjoy having realistic teeth that stay in their mouths at all times. Implants start as small metal rods that are embedded into the jaw. Once they are securely in place and the jaw has grown partially around then, dentists install crowns over the rods. These crowns look and feel like natural teeth. In fact, dental implants are so close to real teeth that they help people in the following ways. 

Increased Confidence

Although many people get used to wearing dentures or having bulky dental bridges, only dental implants really feel like having your natural teeth again. With implants, you don't need to worry about people seeing dental work behind your smile or recognizing dentures for what they really are. Instead, you can smile with confidence, knowing that nothing about your smile looks artificial or strange. You can also take care of your implants like your regular teeth, so you won't need to worry about food getting stuck in them — you can simply floss it away as you normally would and continue smiling.

Easier Lifestyle

Since implants are so similar to natural teeth, most dentists recommend caring for them as you would care for your natural teeth. Floss and brush them twice a day, remove food particles that are trapped near them, and avoid exposing them to sugar or acidic substances throughout the day. You may need to floss them slightly more aggressively than your natural teeth, but this is the only change you may need to make. Compared to dentures that have to be removed and cleaned regularly, implants come with a simple, natural-feeling lifestyle that is easy to adapt to and embrace. 

Better Overall Life Quality

The extra confidence and comfort that come with implants aren't just related to smiling or oral hygiene. A study by Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine found that postmenopausal women with osteoporosis who had dental implants had better overall qualities of life than similar women with bridges, dentures, or untreated missing teeth. In fact, the women with implants were better off in terms of their physical health, emotional health, and sexual health. They also experienced more satisfaction at work. Dental implants appear to create confidence that bleeds into many aspects of life, so for many people, they are a vast improvement over dentures and bridges.