5 Signs That You Need Dental Implants

When it comes to replacing missing or broken teeth, proactive care is also recommended. Although there are a number of treatment options available, only dental implants offer the long-term benefits necessary to regaining a healthy and functional smile. If you’re unsure of when you should take the plunge for implants, here’s just a few signs that your smile needs the stability and health benefits of dental implants.

1. Missing Teeth The most obvious sign that you need to find a tooth replacement solution is of course, missing teeth. Regardless of how your case of tooth loss was caused, filling in gaps is critical to protecting the overall health of your smile. Without treatment, neighboring teeth can begin to shift, compromising your ability to bite and chew. Lost teeth can also damage your self-esteem, causing many to hide their smile from new acquaintances and old friends alike. If you find yourself avoiding showing your teeth, it might be time to consider dental implants.
2. Severe Periodontal Disease While easily prevented, it doesn’t take long for plaque accumulation to turn into gum disease. If left untreated this condition can quickly wreak havoc on your smile, causing gum recession and even tooth loss. If you’re recovering from severe periodontal disease, dental implants may be the best option for replacing lost teeth and restoring health to the smile.
3. Severe Tooth Decay or Failed Root Canal It is always our goal to preserve and treat natural teeth whenever possible. However, in cases of serious tooth decay or repeated failed root canal therapy, it may be in your smile’s best interest to extract the damaged tooth and start fresh with an implant. The material used in dental implants is biocompatible as well as invulnerable to infection like natural teeth. This prevents recurrent infection as well as protects neighboring teeth from infection.
4. Jawbone Deterioration One of the most serious consequences of extended denture and bridge use, jawbone deterioration occurs when lack of teeth roots causes the bone beneath to begin losing density and start shrinking. Not only can this cause neighboring teeth to fall out, but may also lead to facial sagging. Replacing lost teeth with implants can help reverse this course of events while simultaneously encouraging bone regrowth and bite improvement.
5. Oral Cancer Recovery Tooth loss and bone deterioration are common side effects of radiation and chemotherapy needed to treat oral cancers. Using dental implants to support a restoration can help rebuild the affected area as well as help survivors regain confidence in the function of their smile.

When it comes to replacing missing teeth, it’s important to explore your options with the guidance of an experienced professional. Dr. Keith Bram has over 25 years of experience helping patients with different causes of tooth loss regain confidence in the look, feel, and function of their smiles. To learn more about your treatment options, call one of our locations and schedule a visit to our Chicago implant dentist today!