Why Periodontists Recommend Dental Implants for Missing Teeth

Periodontists often recommend a dental implant for a missing tooth because it has many advantages over alternative options, including dentures. A dental implant is a comprehensive process that requires multiple months from beginning to end. That said, patients often report high levels of satisfaction with their implants and the way that their smiles look afterward.

If you are considering dental implants, you should understand why periodontists recommend them so frequently. Here are a few of the main reasons so you can make an informed choice.

The benefits of a dental implant for a missing tooth

A dental implant requires a periodontist to place a metal post into the patient's jawbone and wait for it to fuse directly into the bone tissue. While this process takes time to recover from, it offers numerous benefits. For example, a dental implant can do the following.

Stimulate the jawbone

Since the metal post is screwed directly into the jawbone, the bone tissue continues to receive stimulation from chewing and speaking, just like it would with a natural tooth root. This enables the bone to remain dense, which can help prevent the sunken facial appearance that is common among those patients who do not replace their missing teeth.

It also helps the jawbone remain resilient. Frequent stimulation makes the bone stronger and less prone to fracturing.

Create an appealing aesthetic

Periodontists also recommend dental implants because they are visually appealing as tooth replacement options. The prosthetic tooth that is affixed to the top of the implant's metal post is often made from ceramic, porcelain, or another material that can accurately mimic the shade, texture, and translucence of a real tooth.

As a result, no one will be able to tell that a patient’s tooth is not natural. This goes a long way in assuaging the patient’s fears that their smile will never be whole again.

Be easy to care for

Dental implants are easier to care for than dentures and many other tooth replacement options. The implants are firmly affixed to the jawbone, so they do not need to be removed to be cleaned or soaked like dentures. Instead, patients can take good care of their dental implants the same way that they do the rest of their teeth: by keeping up with consistent, high-quality brushing and flossing.

Sufficient care keeps the implant strong for many years, making it a durable tooth replacement option. Many patients enjoy their implants for decades, and if a repair is necessary, it is normally only the top part (the prosthetic tooth) that needs replacement, not the entire device.