As the holidays roll around, more and more people could consider restoring their smile for a new year. Several tooth replacement options exist, depending on the number of teeth missing and additional factors. Your Waco cosmetic dentist, Dr. Corbet Locke, discusses how dentures and dental implants can replace missing teeth and the health risks associated with adult tooth loss.
Adult Tooth Loss
Many studies lately set out with the intention of establishing a link between tooth loss, chewing ability, and decreased mental function. One study showed that patients whom failed to maintain their chewing ability of hard foods like pears or apples suffered from a greater risk of developing dementia. The study illustrated that blood flow to the brain plays an integral role in maintaining mental functions. A study from the Baylor School of Medicine showed that students whom report chewing gum regularly score higher on mathematics tests than students whom do not chew gum with any regularity.
As of now, the leading cause of adult tooth loss is gum disease. Although many people remain unaware of the prevalence of gum disease, recent reports indicate that nearly 80{dcbe0cd52ce35e2f156887e14605e24111ce99c14f01d3853732956d43020bdd} of American adults will suffer from gum disease during their lifetime.
Dentures and Dental Implants
Dentures and dental implants both provide patients with a solution to the issue of replacing missing teeth. Although both options serve as reliable prosthetics, dental implants show some distinct advantages. Dental implants enable patients to replace multiple teeth or a single tooth. Using titanium posts and ceramic prosthetic crowns, a dental implant can look and function like natural teeth. Most patients can continue eating all of their favorite foods after successfully receiving dental implants.
One of the main advantages of dental implants involves their cleaning process. Dentures often require external solutions and chemicals to remove excess food particles and prevent a proliferation of odor-causing bacteria. Dental implants require none of these chemical solutions. Patients can clean their dental implants like normal teeth. With proper oral care, dental implants can last for a lifetime of smiling.
Schedule Your Waco Dental Implant Visit
Interested in replacing missing teeth? Schedule an appointment by calling our Waco dentist office at (254) 776-4888. We welcome patients from Waco, Woodway, McGregor, Hewitt, the 76712 zip code, and surrounding communities.