Missing teeth can prevent you from smiling or laughing with others. Having a full set of teeth indicates beauty and health. But missing a few teeth can ruin your confidence, which tends to get worse if you don’t get teeth replacements. Missing teeth can make it hard to speak or chew properly. Also, they can alter your facial and jawbone structure. Thankfully, you don’t have to experience all these if you get dental implants in Omaha, NE. Implants are a permanent solution to missing teeth that work like the roots of your real teeth. They are titanium posts surgically inserted into your jawbone to provide your new teeth with a stable foundation. 

Impact of Missing Teeth on Your Jawbone

Missing teeth can cause your face to collapse when not replaced. Your teeth and jaw work together to maintain your facial structure. The jawbone is what anchors your teeth in place whenever you chew, bite, talk, or laugh. In turn, this activity stimulates your jawbone’s growth and strength. However, when you lose a tooth, the bone starts to deteriorate. 

Once a tooth is missing, up to 25 percent of the bone can melt away after a few months. This will not stop at the bone beneath the missing tooth. The deterioration can spread and cause the rest of your teeth to shift out of position or become loose. Over time, eating and speaking clearly can become harder. 

Impacts of Missing Teeth on Your Face

Both your upper and lower jawbone make up a big part of your face. As your body reabsorbs your jawbone because of disuse, your face will lose its underlying structure. As a result, your cheek can collapse inward, your lips fold inward, your skin starts to sag, or your chin and nose can become closer to each other. 

The Best Tooth Replacements

While you can choose from various tooth replacement options, dental implants preserve your jawbone. Implants are a replacement for the crown and root of your tooth. But if you have been missing teeth for a long time, your jawbone density may not be enough to support an implant. In this case, your dentist can use a dental bone graft to build up your jawbone before the implant procedure.

Dental implants are extensive surgeries. To ensure the success of the procedure, ensure it is performed by a dentist who specializes in dental implants. If you have missing teeth and want to get implants to replace them, you will appreciate the expertise and precision a skilled dentist brings to their practice.