Can Dental Implants Increase Your Lifespan?

Tooth loss affects millions of Americans throughout the country. However, losing a tooth doesn’t mean that you need to go the rest of your life with a gap in your smile. Dental implants are an excellent tooth replacement option with so many benefits, including the fact that they can give you beautiful results that will last decades. But did you know that dental implants may be able to increase your lifespan? Continue reading to learn about the health benefits of dental implants.

Prevents Future Tooth Loss

If you have a tooth extracted and it isn’t replaced soon after, your jawbone will begin to be reabsorbed by the jawbone. This can cause your other teeth to shift around and lead to additional tooth loss over time. Dental implants are the only tooth replacement option that replaces the root of the missing teeth. This ultimately prevents bone loss from occurring over time and keeps the surrounding teeth in their places. In the end, you won’t be experiencing the negative effects of bone loss and misalignment issues.

Protection Against Gum Disease

If you don’t care for your dentures or bridges properly, or they don’t fit right, this can make it much more likely that there will be additional food and bacteria left in the mouth. Poor oral hygiene often leads to gum disease, like gingivitis and periodontitis. This means that anything from gum swelling, bleeding, additional tooth loss, and more negative effects. Periodontitis has been linked to numerous health issues, some of them being life-threatening. They include heart disease, type 2 diabetes, pregnancy complications, Alzheimer’s disease, and lung infections.

Brushing and flossing is made much easier with dental implants than with dentures and bridges. Because dental implants act like natural teeth, you can brush and floss thoroughly. This will reduce your chances of developing gum disease and all of the health risks that are associated with it.

Allows for a Nutritious Diet

Tooth replacement options, like bridges and dentures, can make it more difficult for you to eat certain foods, including those that are nutritious. Healthy fruits and vegetables that are filled with nutrients linked to heart health and rich sources of fiber will be left aside more often. When you aren’t getting the vitamins and minerals that you need, you are much more likely to develop health issues. With dental implants, eating is made much easier since you don’t have to worry about eliminating foods from your diet.

Dental implants provide patients with so many benefits, including improved overall health. In the end, they may even prolong your life!

About the Author

Dr. Jason Kaopua is an experienced dentist who has been working in the field for over two decades. After completing his undergraduate degree at BYU Hawaii, he achieved his doctorate from the Oregon Health & Sciences University. He has completed advanced training in numerous topics, including dental implant placement, Invisalign, and soft tissue laser treatment. To learn more about dental implants or to schedule an appointment at his office in Everett, visit his website or call (425) 267-3333.