The Importance of Dental Implants After Tooth Extractions

If you’ve been told that you need a tooth, or multiple teeth, extracted, you have probably also asked yourself how they will be replaced.  The need to replace a missing tooth in the front is critical in maintaining a socially-acceptable smile, however some people wonder why they might need to replace a missing tooth in the back, where nobody can see it.  What many San Diego patients don’t realize, is that back teeth are needed to stabilize your bite and allow you to chew efficiently. When back teeth are missing for long periods of time, the teeth begin to shift and move, and the jaw joint can become out of balance from chewing mostly on the opposite site. Also, as teeth shift and move, they can begin getting in the way of chewing and damage other teeth, causing even more teeth to need removed in the future. Keep reading to learn more!

Maintain Eating Functionality

In the past, when teeth had to be extracted, bridges or dentures were the most common solution. Before dental implants, when all the teeth required removal, dentures were the only option.  One of the major drawbacks with dentures is that they tend to slide around when you’re trying to eat, and can fall out at any point, which can be very embarrassing in certain social situations! Permanently cemented dental bridges were an option when only one or tooth teeth were missing.  Being securely attached to remaining teeth, bridges do not move around during chewing like dentures, but they are very difficult to clean under and often result in damage and eventual loss of one or both of the supporting teeth.

The ability to utilize dental implants has completely changed how teeth are replaced.  Because dental implants are surgically secured to your jaw bone, they do not move around.  Wether replacing a single tooth or several teeth, dental implants provide the security and comfort of forgetting about having artificial teeth and simply enjoy life as it’s mean too be; eating, laughing, and smiling with confidence.

Preserving Jaw Bone Tissue

Most people don’t know that natural teeth also help preserve bone! They help stimulate jaw bone growth and prevent shrinkage, also known as jaw bone ‘resorption’. Since bridges and dentures don’t connect to your jaw bone to stimulate it, they leave you at risk for severe bone resorption. When too much resorption occurs, surgical procedures to regenerate the lost bone are needed to allow placement of dental implants in the future.  In some cases, resorption can be so severe that it can’t be repaired and you’re stuck with a troublesome and undesirable denture.  When San Diego patients choose dental implants to replace missing teeth right away, the bone is stimulated, preventing shrinkage and catastrophic resorption.

Providing You With a Built-to-Last Solution

When you invest in getting dental implants, you are investing in a long-term tooth replacement, unlike dentures and bridges that need to be periodically replaced. When strategically placed by a specialist like Dr. Tina Beck-Mayo, dental implants can last a lifetime! In fact, they have over a 90% success rate! Causes of complications include smoking, improper home care (cleaning), and medical conditions such as diabetes. If you want your dental implants to last, Dr. Beck-Mayo and her team are here to help.  When dental implants are properly placed, restored, and cared for, they can last a lifetime.

Giving You a Natural Smile

It’s not everyday that you think about how important a smile is. This is one of the major benefits of dental implants; they allow you to smile and chew with confidence. After all, nobody else needs to know your artificial teeth aren’t ‘real’! With dental implants, nobody will ever guess that you have fake, prosthetic teeth (unless you tell them, of course!)

Contact Our Office to Learn More

Whether you have a tooth that’s causing you a lot of pain, you’ve been told you need a tooth extraction, or already have a missing tooth, Dr. Beck-Mayo can help! Highly trained in both surgical removal of teeth, and placement dental implants, you can trust you are in good hands. So call today to schedule a consultation, during which we will review your unique situation, answer all your questions, and reassure you that you are making a wise choice trusting Dr. Tina Beck-Mayo and her team with your care.

Call us today at (858) 635-6700 to schedule an appointment! San Diego patients are lucky to have such a skilled and caring specialist like Dr. Beck-Mayo! Simply read some of her reviews and you’ll know you are making a great choice!