If you’re missing teeth, enjoying the simple things in life can be a bit more challenging. Do you find yourself hiding your smile or laughing less? Do you have trouble eating your favorite foods or speaking clearly? Do you dislike having your photo taken?
While there are several tooth replacement options to consider, one stands out above the rest: dental implants. They can make a world of difference in your life and help you get back to smiling confidently and enjoying life.
That’s why September is Dental Implant Awareness Month: to spread awareness about the benefits of dental implants as well as how to find a qualified expert to give you the smile you deserve.
The theme for 2021 is “Eat, laugh, live again!” It celebrates how dental implants help you return to living life to the fullest and how they drastically improve confidence and joy.
When you have gaps in your smile, they can make you feel less confident and embarrassed to show off your teeth. If you wear dentures, you may also smile or laugh less if you're concerned about them slipping or falling out. Dental implants look and function like natural teeth and no one will be able to tell the difference between a dental implant and a real tooth. When cared for properly, dental implants can last many decades so you can hold your head high and smile radiantly again.
Teeth are an important part of how we articulate our words. Missing teeth and loose dentures can make it difficult to speak clearly and easily pronouncing words. Dental implants support normal speech since they are stabilized in your jaw and feel as natural as your own teeth so you no longer need to worry about how you sound to others.
One of the primary goals of dental treatment is to help you chew better and without pain. Dental implants are the only tooth replacement option that allow you to enjoy eating like you can with a full set of natural teeth. The superior stability and strength of implants improves your bite and chewing control, enabling you to eat more nutritious food and improve overall health. Immediately after a dental implant procedure, you will need to give your mouth some time to heal so you will temporarily need to eat soft foods. Once the healing process is over, you can eat all kinds of foods again like salads, nuts, apples, and corn on the cob.
Dental implants don’t require any special cleaning techniques. You will care for them just like natural teeth. You will want to brush at least twice a day, floss at least once a day, drink plenty of water, eat a balanced diet, and avoid tobacco. With proper care and regular visits to the dentist for cleanings, implants can last years and years.
Dental implants have improved the quality of life for countless people and it is one of the safest and most predictable procedures in dentistry when performed by a trained and experienced dental implant expert.
When you select an AAID-credentialed dentist, you can be confident he or she will knowledgeably evaluate your needs, discuss your treatment options and answer all your questions.
Visit dentalimplantsinfo.org for more information about the benefits of dental implants, how your health is impacted by missing teeth and how to find an experienced dentist.
Additionally, you can test your dental implant knowledge by taking the Dental Implants: Do You Know The Facts? quiz. See for yourself how dental implants can change your life!
The dentist consulted for this article was: Alfred “Duke” Heller, DDS, MS, FAAID, DABOI/ID
Dr. Alfred “Duke” Heller is the president of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID). He earned his DDS (1962) and MS (1974) from The Ohio State University College of Dentistry. After spending two and a half years in the Army Dental Corp (1962-65), Dr. Heller moved to Worthington, Ohio where he began his private practice. He practiced 57 years, the last 44 years limiting his practice to all aspects of implant dentistry. In 1980, he co-founded with Dr. Jack Hahn the Midwest Implant Institute. He practiced with his son, Dr. Robert Heller, a prosthodontist, for 25 years. He has lectured world wide on all aspects of implant dentistry.