Implant dentistry offers patients a superior, durable solution to replace their missing molars. Patients can work with a periodontist to take advantage of this innovative treatment option.
Function of Rearmost Teeth
Although their absence won’t be terribly noticeable in your smile – initially, at least – your rearmost teeth are essential to your smile’s ability to chew properly. Those teeth tend to have the largest chewing surfaces in your smile, and they’re instrumental for processing the more fibrous foods in your diet.
Furthermore, lost molars can affect your smile’s appearance in a way that you don’t expect. When those teeth are missing, the other teeth can shift out of their correct positions into that empty space, creating gaps between the teeth or other issues with the smile’s alignment.
Additionally, if lost molars aren’t replaced with dental implants, the bone in the area can wear away, and that bone atrophy can compromise the stability of surrounding teeth, putting them at risk for tooth loss, too.
Value of A Structurally Complete Tooth Replacement
Only dental implants offer a structurally complete tooth replacement, and this treatment method, which can be provided by a periodontist, is an ideal solution to restore a smile affected by missing molars.
In comparison to standard tooth replacement appliances, dental implants are:
- More durable, as they preserve the integrity of the jawbone, allowing the supported appliance to retain its fit
- More functional, with the bone-implant bond able to tolerate chewing forces approximating those associated with the chewing function of biological teeth
- More comfortable because the structurally complete tooth replacement feels like a natural tooth and doesn’t require unpleasant adhesives
- Less detrimental to any remaining teeth, due to their ability to stand alone rather than depend on crowns placed on surrounding teeth for support
Clearly, there are many reasons why patients would not only want to replace molars and other teeth that aren’t in a prominent location in the smile, but also to restore their smiles using dental implants. These patients should consult with our team at Park Cities Periodontics and Implant Dentistry to learn more about their treatment options.