Do implants have other effects on my health?

Besides my mental health, do implants have other effects on my health, that differ from the overall health care provided by other treatments for tooth loss?

In addition to improving your self-esteem, dental implants will also make a big difference in your overall physical health and appearance.

 

As a result of losing one or more teeth, you inevitably lose mass in your jaw. This affects the overall skeletal structure of your face, which not only changes your profile, but also may result in thin lips, drooping muscles, jowls or witch’s chin. Spreading bone loss in the jaw affects the gums and ridges in your mouth, as well as the muscles and nerves in and around the mouth. These conditions, which are the inevitable consequence of tooth loss, are associated with a host of anatomic and clinical problems, ranging from increased tongue size, to looseness of remaining teeth, to loss of sensation, to severely painful conditions. These conditions may only be avoided through use of dental implants, because implants may halt and even reverse the bone loss that results from losing teeth.

“I first came to Dr. Charles Martin because my sister had been there and she had successful implants done. She thought Dr. Martin should look at me because I had lost a bridge. So I came in with her and soon I was also getting implants.

My treatment and procedures by Dr. Martin include three implants. That was about 10 years ago. They have been absolutely wonderful, not the first minutes trouble with them.

I also have a bridge. My bridge had a tooth that abscessed and the root canal was not successful. There is only 1 tooth of that remaining now. I have been worried about giving up that bridge. On a scale of 1 – 10, I give my treatment and Dr. Martin a 10. I have been very pleased with my results.

And as to how I look — I think my six new crowns across the front are absolutely beautiful. I would best describe my dental experience in this office as very pleasing and very good. I rate this office as excellent, both the doctors and the staff.

I would say that going through the process of the six new crowns was a little more than the three implants because I had been sick a lot this winter. And I am about 10 –12 years older. However, Dr. Martin makes you feel more than comfortable during the procedures.

I do recommend this practice whenever people tell me they need a dentist. I say, “You need to see my dentist in Richmond, VA, Dr. Charles Martin on Huguenot Road.”

I do not know enough adjectives to describe this dental office. I am very satisfied and would rate this office, doctors, and staff as excellent in every way.

There are a lot of the staff that have been very helpful to me. Of course, Lisa has been here longer than most of the staff. I consider her and some of the other girls that are no longer here very dear friends. I still remember Dr. Martin’s assistant during the implants, I can’t remember her name but she was excellent too. So I would say I have had wonderful care all around and I appreciate it very much.”

Bea Parrish

How do dental implants prevent bone loss?

Bone needs stimulation to maintain its form and density. That is why the astronauts lose bone mass while they are in space – their bones lack the stimulation that results from our everyday resistance to gravity. The bone in your jaw is constantly reinforced by the force applied by your teeth.

The teeth transmit force to surrounding bone, so when you lose a tooth, the lack of stimulation results in bone loss or “resorption”.

Dental implants are inserted into the jawbone in place of missing teeth. Then prosthetic restorations, like porcelains, bridge-work, or dentures are attached to a post or abutment placed inside the implant. So when you chew, the implant acts like the root of a tooth – it transmits force to the jaw and stimulates the bone.

Implant Dentistry – Something To Smile About