If you have one or more missing teeth, you might be searching for the best long-term solution to your problem. Constantly putting dentures in and taking them out can be a nuisance, and bridges often don't last very long. The real trick to getting a tooth replacement to work as well as a real tooth and last as long as one is to ensure that it's as close to the real thing as possible. Read on to learn more about the longest-term solution for missing teeth.

Understanding How Real Teeth Work

Chances are you know that teeth have roots and that those roots are responsible for maintaining circulation to the tooth, as well as hosting the nerves that allow you to feel it when something is hurting your tooth. However, that's not all the roots of a tooth are good for.

The roots of your teeth actually go down into the jaw itself. When you bite down on anything, the pressure that you place on your tooth goes through the root, into the jaw. This helps to keep the jaw strong by encouraging it to strengthen the bone.

The Dental Implant Similarity

Dental implants are one possible solution to missing teeth, and one of the longest-lasting ones. This is partially due to the fact that dental implants are extremely similar to real teeth.

Dental implants are made up of two parts: the tooth replacement itself, and the post that it sits upon. The post is where the real magic happens with dental implants. That post acts like a tooth root, transferring pressure in the same way a real tooth does. As a result, dental implants can help to keep your jaw strong in the same way that real teeth can.

The Installation Process

Having dental implants installed is typically done in two parts: installing the post and mounting the tooth on top of it. The post is placed into the jaw bone where the tooth root used to be, so very little - if any - drilling is typically necessary. From there, you'll be sent home for the jaw and gums to heal and seal up around the implant post to ensure that it's snug and ready to withstand pressure.

Once the healing process is complete, you'll be called back in to the dentist's office. The post will have an artificial tooth mounted on top of it, which looks and feels just like the real thing. You'll then be ready to eat and chew normally as though you'd never lost a tooth at all.

Dental implants are the longest-lasting tooth replacement option and work extremely well at keeping the jaw strong. If you're looking for the best solution, look no further than dental implants. Consult your local dentist, like Belgrade Dental Associates, to ask if dental implants are right for you.