If you’re a senior who is missing teeth, you may be under the erroneous belief that it’s simply too late to bother with replacing them with dental implants. But thankfully, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, when it comes to restoring your biting function and smile, there’s no such thing as too late. Here’s why.
Greater Biteforce
You probably didn’t think much about biteforce when you had a full set of healthy teeth. Chewing is just one of those things many people take for granted. But once you’ve lost even one permanent tooth, it becomes a lot more noticeable. That’s because without a full set of teeth, it becomes very difficult to chew, and the more you lose the harder it gets. Eating a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables is great for your body, but without a way to chew them properly, they become impossible to enjoy.
When you replace missing teeth with the help of dental implants, you restore that lost biteforce that was keeping you from eating a healthier diet. This can vastly improve your overall health and help prevent dangerous conditions like malnutrition.
Stronger Bones
Another issue many people who have lost adult teeth face is bone degradation. This happens because the jawbone is no longer being stimulated by the missing tooth or teeth. Unfortunately, without that stimulation, your jawbone begins to deteriorate. Eventually, this can require a bone graft to save your jaw and the rest of your teeth. With dental implants, however, your jaw gets that beneficial stimulation again, preserving your bones and safeguarding your nearby healthy teeth.
Improved Confidence
Self-esteem is important at any age, and having poor confidence can take its toll on you emotionally. If you find yourself embarrassed to speak or eat in front of others and have become withdrawn or anti-social, dental implants can help improve your self-image and give you back the confidence you lost with your original set of teeth. In fact, studies have shown that people who live isolated lives have a 50 percent higher risk of early death than those who are more outgoing, so being more social could even extend your life!
Remember, you’re never too old to have a healthy smile. Dental implants are an excellent way for patients of any age to permanently restore missing adult teeth and live their best lives with the help of improved oral and overall health!
About Our Practice
At Lakeland Dental Care, we’re proud to be locally owned. Being a part of the Jackson community allows us to take the time to get to know our patients and their families, so we can truly help them make a lifetime of excellent oral health choices. Our comprehensive office offers a variety of treatment options under one roof, from general dentistry to cosmetic procedures and even dental implants and bone grafting.
To schedule a dental implant consultation today, please visit our website or call us at 601-981-8166.