You do not have to settle for gaps in your smile due to missing teeth. Dental implants help fill in the gaps where teeth are 
missing by anchoring artificial teeth securely in place. In addition to restoring your smile, dental implants also offer several other benefits. A dentist can help you decide if dental implants are the right choice for you. Dr. Edmund Jay is your dentist for dental implants in San Diego, CA.
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are metal posts that function similarly to the roots of natural teeth by serving as anchors for artificial teeth. A single dental implant can be used in conjunction with a dental crown to replace a missing tooth. Dental implants can also be used to replace several teeth at a time when used in conjunction with bridgework or implant-supported overdentures.
Dental implants are able to hold artificial teeth so securely because the implants are inserted into the jaw bone and permanently fuse with the bone over time. The fusion process can take between four to six months. Once fusion is complete, dental implants are ready to anchor artificial tooth in place.
Restoring Your Smile and More
The side effects of missing teeth extend beyond having gaps in your smile. When teeth are missing, the face can sag and droop, speech can change, and the remaining teeth endure extra strain, which can cause them to wear out faster. Dental implants help address all of these problems. Your San Diego dentist for dental implants can explain all the ways dental implants can benefit you.
The natural shape of the face can change when teeth are missing because there is less support for the facial muscles. By filling in the gaps where teeth are missing with dental implants and artificial teeth, the facial muscles will be properly supported. With proper support, sagging and drooping diminish and the natural shape of the face is restored.
Speech can also change when teeth are missing. The teeth help control placement of the tongue whenever you speak. When teeth are missing, the tongue can slip into the gaps, changing the sound of your speech. By filling in those gaps, dental implants and artificial teeth can help your speech return to normal so you sound like yourself again.
Finally, dental implants help alleviate excess strain on teeth. When you have missing teeth, the remaining teeth take on all the work of biting and chewing when eating. This puts extra strain on those teeth, which can cause them to be worn down more quickly. By restoring your smile with dental implants, the work of biting and chewing will be equally distributed across a full set of teeth.
Restore your smile, your speech, and the natural shape of your face with dental implants. For dental implants in San Diego, schedule an appointment with Dr. Jay by calling the office at (858) 270-0682.
