Dental Implants

    PHOENIZ, AZ, September 04, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- While many people find dentures a suitable alternative, they have many disadvantages. Dentures must be cleaned on a regular basis, which can be inconvenient. They also tend to move in the mouth, causing embarrassing situations, discomfort and even pain. Long-term denture wearers can also suffer bone loss in the jawbones. This happens because dentures don't stimulate bone growth during chewing and other everyday activities the way natural tooth roots do.

For these reasons, some people choose instead to have dental implants. Dental implants present several advantages over traditional dentures, including:

• Permanent tooth replacement
• Healthy bone growth
• Natural look and feel of the replacement teeth

A dental implant consists of a titanium screw that is placed directly in the jawbone. You then must allow the implant to heal for a few weeks, during which time it bonds with the bone. After this healing process is complete, your dentist places permanent replacements on the implants.

One common side effect of long-term denture use is bone loss in the jaw. The roots of your natural teeth stimulate your jawbones while you chew. Dentures sit on top of the gums and thus don't stimulate the bone. Implants, by contrast, are set into the bone, and eventually bond with it. Because of this bonding, bone growth is stimulated just as it would be with natural roots.

If you've suffered from bone loss prior to receiving dental implants, you might need to have bone grafts to replace the lost bone. Alternately, the implants can be placed to avoid the areas where the bone loss is most severe.

Implants can support single replacement teeth, bridges, or full dentures. A consultation with a qualified, experienced cosmetic dentist can help you determine if implants are a good choice for you.

For more information about dental implants, please visit the website of Phoenix, Mesa and Scottsdale, Arizona area cosmetic dentists Scott LeSueur, DDS and Charles Dodaro, DDS.

Website: http://www.drsofsmiles.com

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