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Dental Implants: You and No One Else Can Discern Them From Your Natural Teeth

Jan 01, 2023
Worried about replacing a missing tooth with a dental implant? Don’t be! Dental implants are virtually indistinguishable from your natural teeth. Read on to find out more.

Whether you have lost a tooth due to an accident, injury, tooth decay, or some other reason, you’re likely worried about replacing it.

Will the replacement be noticeable? Will it look different than your other teeth? Will you be able to talk and chew in the same way? Will it last?

These concerns are understandable — after all, your teeth are one of the first things people notice about you. Fortunately, if you’re missing a tooth, you can put your concerns to rest when you get a dental implant, which is virtually indistinguishable from your natural teeth.

Our team at Tropical Dental Care, located in Tomball, Texas, understands your concerns and are experts in providing the solution. Here’s how we do it.

What is a dental implant?

If you have lost a tooth, it’s essential to replace it as soon as possible. If you don’t replace it, your jawbone will begin to erode, changing the shape and function of your jaw for the worse.

Depending on your unique situation, the single best way to replace a missing tooth is a dental implant made up of three parts. The implant body is surgically inserted into your jawbone to replace the root of your tooth. Then, the dental implant abutment is attached to the body, where it extends upwards through the gums to support the tooth-like structure, such as a crown.

How are implants similar to your natural teeth?

Dental implants look so much like your natural teeth because they are designed to mimic natural teeth. Because the implant is installed directly in the jawbone, it has the same stability as a natural tooth — it won’t move, slip, or distort your smile. You can chew and eat whatever you want, and it will stay in place. The force chewing places on the implant actually stimulates jawbone growth, keeping it from receding.

Thanks to advances in technology, the visible part of the implant (the crown) is made from porcelain or a composite material, both of which can be shaded specifically to match the natural look of your teeth. In addition, the crown can be molded, sanded, and shaped to exactly match the size and shape of the tooth it’s replacing.

Add up all these factors, and they bring you to one conclusion: no one will know you have a dental implant.

Implants are also becoming more popular. The American Academy of Implant Dentistry says three million people in the United States have implants, with another 500,000 people getting an implant each year.

If you’re ready for a dental implant, schedule an appointment with Tropical Dental Care and our providers will explain the entire process and determine if you’re a good candidate for the procedure. Just call our office or fill out our online appointment request form.