Your teeth are important for more than just a beautiful smile. Each tooth allows you to perform necessary oral functions to stay healthy, like biting and chewing. Losing even one can affect your ability to chew certain foods, like meat. You might have to cut some foods from your diet. Unfortunately, this can lead to health issues that can shorten your lifespan. You can turn back the clock with a complete, functional smile. Here’s why dental implants are an investment in a long and happy life.
Tooth Loss and Life Expectancy
An incomplete smile is more than just an aesthetic concern. Research has shown people with at least 5 missing teeth before the age of 65 are more likely to have several health issues, like cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and diabetes. Although each condition is manageable, it can limit your life expectancy.
The conditions are also linked to other factors, like your lifestyle and socioeconomic status; however, there’s a connection between tooth loss and life expectancy. Replacing lost teeth can lessen your risk of certain health issues. The Oral Health Foundation reports people with all their natural teeth at the age of 74 are more likely to see their 100th birthday.
Live Longer with Dental Implants
Bridges, partials, and dentures have been used for generations to replace lost teeth. They are effective, but they all have one thing in common. They only recreate the portions of teeth above the gum line. As a result, you’ll still lose density in your jawbone. You can lose up to 25% of your jaw’s density within the first year of a missing tooth because it’s not being stimulated by the root. As your bone weakens, any remaining teeth won’t have the support they need, so they can loosen and fall out.
You can preserve your natural smile and boost your life expectancy with dental implants. Both the root and crown are recreated to mimic your entire tooth structure. A titanium post is surgically placed into the jaw to serve as a root. Your bone will fust to it through a process called osseointegration to provide a stable foundation for your replacement tooth.
A dental implant will prevent bone loss to stop common complications caused by an incomplete smile. Besides improving your oral health, you can also avoid conditions that can shorten your lifespan, like heart disease.
Invest in Dental Implants
Your new tooth will have the support of your jawbone to regain 70% of your natural biting force. You won’t have to worry about leaving certain foods off your plate to maintain a balanced diet. Don’t wait to enjoy the countless health benefits of dental implants for a long, bright future.
About Dr. Vladimir Pastouk
Dr. Pastouk has over 20 years of experience in dentistry. After earning his dental degree in Ukraine, he relocated to the US, where he completed thousands of hours of additional training in medical and dental surgeries. His extensive qualifications in dental implants allow him to treat the most complex cases of tooth loss. If you’re ready to rebuild your smile, contact our office today to schedule your consultation.