The hole in your smile caused by losing a tooth unleashes more than a negative social stigma. Without a root to transfer the pressure placed on a tooth while chewing to the jawbone and thus stimulate it, you can experience bone-density loss. As you lose bone density, the teeth surrounding the gap in your smile can move, which can cause your bite to get out of whack. A misaligned bite can be painful. Thus, if you have lost a tooth, you should consider having it replaced, and when you have it replaced, you should make sure that your dentist uses a dental implant. 

The Anatomy of an Implant

Unlike other options for replacing a tooth, such as a bridge, a dental implant seeks to replace more than the crown of the tooth. A dental implant starts with a titanium post that is, you guessed it, implanted into your jawbone. Once the bone has healed around this post, your dentist will then use dental cement or a screw to attach a crown. Once completed, your post will be at least as permanent as your natural tooth. 

The Benefits of a Dental Implant

Unlike bridges, which will float over your gums, a dental implant looks and behaves like a natural tooth. Thus, those looking at your smile should not know that you have a fake tooth. Looks are just the beginning of the benefits of a dental implant. The pressure you place on your porcelain crown will travel down your titanium root and stimulate the bone, thus, keeping it healthy. It will hold up to sticky and hard foods. It will not rot like a natural tooth would. In other words, if you want a replacement tooth that behaves like a natural tooth, you want a dental implant. 

While it might seem like a dental implant is indestructible, just remember that your gums are not. If you neglect to brush and floss around your replacement tooth, your gums can still become inflamed and infected. If you lose your gums, your dental implant can still fail. Thus, proper dental hygiene is important whether you have dentures anchored with titanium posts or just one replacement. You should also let hygienists know you have an implant, so they can use plastic instruments that will not scratch your tooth. While it is always better to keep your natural teeth in place, if you do have to replace a tooth, a dental implant is the way to go.

To learn more, contact a company like Gregory T Grubba.