At The Capital Center for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery we place dental implants on a daily basis. Dr. Emery hears time and time again from happy patients just how much dental implants have improved their lives.

That got us thinking; how are people with dental implants in Washington, DC different from those who have dentures or dental bridges?

Here are 10 ways people with dental implants are different.

1. Their mouth looks more natural.

Obviously when you replace a missing tooth the mouth will look more like is it supposed to. But when you consider the difference between dentures and dental implants the difference can be striking.

We’ve all seen people smile and noticed right away that they wear dentures. Dental implant technology has come so far that they truly look like natural teeth. And that’s the point, a smile that looks like the one your mother, and Mother Nature, gave you.

2. Their jaw is not melting.

As crazy as it sounds people with missing teeth are slowly losing the underlying jaw bone in a natural process called resorbtion. When there is no stress on the jaw bone, like the stress on your tooth root caused by every day biting and chewing, the bone starts to melt, or resorb, away.

Dental implants replace the missing tooth root and stimulate the bone in a way that mimics natural teeth.

3. They keep more of their natural teeth.

This one goes hand in hand with the melting jaw bone. A dental bridge is just what it sounds like, a dental appliance that bridges the gap between two teeth caused by a missing tooth. The problem is the bridge does nothing to stimulate the underlying bone where the tooth is missing. Over time the bone can resorb away to the point where it negatively affects the two teeth on each side of the bridge.

4. They enjoy more types of food.

Dental implants function like natural teeth. Therefore people with implants can go back to eating foods that they possibly had to give up when they were wearing dentures. Corn on the cob, whole apples, nuts and tougher cuts of meat are options for those with dental implants.

5. They have more self-esteem and confidence.

You’ve seen people who reflexively put their hand over their mouth when they smile. Put simply, dental implants can give you back your natural smile and improve your self-esteem and confidence.

6. They spend less time flossing.

Hygiene can be much easier for a dental implant supported crown, which can be brushed and flossed like a natural tooth. A tooth supported dental bridge requires the use of a floss threader for proper cleaning.

It is also more convenient to clean a full set of implant supported replacement teeth than a traditional denture.

7. They are more comfortable.

Dental implants truly become a part of you, integrated into your jaw bone. The discomfort of dentures becomes a thing of the past.

8. They speak more clearly.

Implant overdentures may enable you to chew your food with more ease and speak more clearly. Many studies have shown that implant supported overdentures are a factor to improved chewing efficiency and speaking, compared to full dentures.

9. Their teeth stay put.

You’ve certainly seen a comedic movie whereby the joke is someone, usually an older person, has their teeth accidentally fly out of their mouth. Typically this takes place at a restaurant and the dentures just happen to land in someone else’s water. Though this situation is obviously dramatized for effect the truth is dentures can come out of your mouth at inconvenient times

Dental implants are integrated into your jaw bone. Never has someone’s jaw spontaneously detached and flown across the room!

10. They smile more.

People with dental implants tend to smile more. Happy with a natural looking smile they no longer have to cover up when they laugh. Frankly, the world is a nicer place when people smile more, wouldn’t you agree?

To learn more about dental implants in Washington, DC download the free Ebook: