World Center for Dental Implantology - Look Good, Feel Good

/Home/Dental Support and Community/Dental Patient Education Resources

World Center for Dental Implantology - Look Good, Feel Good
There is a certain feeling each of us has when we look into the mirror and feel really confident about our appearance. It "sets the mood" for our day or social function. Simply stated, our personal confidence can dramatically effect our lives.
Unfortunately, missing teeth, medically known as edentulism, keeps many people from "feeling their best". Edentulism not only effects your self confidence, but also has a dramatic impact on the quality of your life.
Edentulism may limit your choice of foods and therefore your nutrition and general health.
Edentulism can make you feel isolated either socially or on the job.
Edentulism can effect relationships with loved ones.
If not treated, partial edentulism, that is missing some of your teeth, can place stress on the remaining teeth requiring them to "do more work". This can lead to further tooth loss.
Edentulism also leads to bone loss making the "fittingǃ٠of traditional dentures difficult or impossible.
For years the best solutions for missing teeth were bridges, removable partial or full dentures.
Partial Dentures: When several teeth are missing, a removable partial denture may provide the support needed to fill in the spaces. Partial dentures usually attach to natural teeth with unsightly clasps and hooks. These very obvious attachments can cause undue stress on the existing natural teeth and promote tooth decay.
Full Dentures: Some people can wear full dentures without fit problems, but it is not uncommon for a denture wearer to live with pain and irritation of the gums or have difficulty eating or speaking. Many denture wearers are anxious about whether or not their denture is going to slip and cause embarrassment.
Fixed Bridges: Removable teeth, no matter how well made, do not feel or function like natural teeth. Historically fixed bridges came as close as possible to the feel of natural teeth. However, this necessitates "cutting down" and crowning natural healthy teeth to support the bridge.
ThereǃÙs another price to pay for edentulism. When teeth are removed, Mother Nature assumes there is no need for the bone that supported the teeth. After all, that is the primary job of your jawbone. Over time the bone slowly, yet progressively diminishes. In fact the upper and lower jawbone get smaller or shrink. This process, called resorption, occurs at a more rapid rate if all teeth in the jaw are missing. But, it also occurs when just some of the teeth are missing. If left untreated, the loss of jaw bone can progress so far that a denture will no longer stay in place no matter how much sticky adhesive is used.
Dental Implants ... The Natural Solution
For centuries man has endeavored to find a more natural replacement for missing teeth. Modern, space age materials have allowed that quest to become a reality. Todays dental implant is possible because of these materials combined with years of research and clinical trials. The dental implant is truly the most natural solution for missing teeth.
But what exactly is a dental implant? There are basically two types of dental implants. Those that sit on top of the jaw bone, but under the gums, and those that fit into the jawbone similar to the root of a natural tooth. Each type offers solid, non-mobile support for replacement teeth which act and feel like natural teeth. Since both types are attached to your jawbone they can provide distinct advantages over traditional methods of replacing missing teeth.
Implants restore proper chewing function and so you can enjoy foods previously too "difficult" to eat.
You feel confident that your replacement teeth wonǃÙt move or loosen.
You regain the closest thing to the look, feel and function of your natural teeth.
Throw away those gooey adhesives.
Forget about unsightly partial denture clasps which place damaging pressure on remaining natural teeth.
Eliminate irritated and painful gums.
Improve your speech by eliminating or reducing the "fullness" of full or partial dentures.
Replace missing teeth with the look and feel of natural teeth without having to "cut down" healthy teeth.
Dental implants help stop the progressive bone loss and shrinkage of your jawbone by "mimicking" the roots of natural teeth.
Dental implants are clinically proven with a success rate in excess of 90%.
Clearly dental implants are one of the finest treatment options dentistry has to offer. With their ability to improve the quality of your life and health it's easy to understand why they have become the accepted alternative to traditional methods of replacing missing teeth.