Dental implants are one of the most successful ways to replace missing teeth. When teeth are lost due to disease or an accident, these prosthetics provide a permanent, discreet, and long-lasting solution.
If you are experiencing the effects of absent teeth, Drs. Leslie L. Ferrara and Maria A. Upshaw can help. Having both received implants themselves, our dentists have a personal understanding of the benefits dental implants have to offer.
Below are a few ways these dental prosthetics rejuvenate your smile while restoring dental function.
Restoring Aesthetics
Missing teeth significantly affects appearance thus impacting self-confidence. Your jawbone, gums, and teeth define your unique facial structure. Over time, gaps in the smile develop a prematurely-aged appearance. Your facial structure will begin to shift and sag due to reducing jaw density, called resorption.
Dental implants replace tooth roots to combat this issue. Strong, yet lightweight titanium posts are placed into the jaw where they bond with the bone.
Once the tissue has fused to the implant in a process called osseointegration, your dentist affixes a personalized restoration created to look like your natural tooth. Designed with a natural appearance in mind, they are crafted from enamel-colored materials that provide you with a uniform smile, preserving dental aesthetics.
Protecting the Structure of Your Smile
When healthy and properly aligned, your teeth are tightly connected to your jaw, keeping them in place. The empty space causes neighboring teeth to shift out of position. This prolonged misalignment affects the appearance of your smile and leads to significant jawbone deterioration.
One reason to consider dental implants is how they provide a strong foundation as well as maintaining dental aesthetics. By replacing missing teeth with these prosthetics, the underlying bone is preserved, and your smile’s function is restored.
Whether you need one tooth or an entire arch replaced, we encourage you to call or visit our downtown Tampa practice today for your dental implant consultation!