Innovative and technologically advanced implant techniques can improve your life if you wear dentures or have multiple missing or failing teeth. Implant supported bridges and replacement teeth never have to come out and are the closest thing to natural teeth. Implant supported bridges and replacement teeth enable you to regain the quality of life lost when teeth are removed. They facilitate eating what you want, when you want and where you want. You'll put years of life back in your smile and regain the self-confidence and performance permanent teeth provide.

In addition to looking and feeling better, a major health benefit to dental implants is the preservation of bone and the maintenance of the facial structure, which improves appearance. When natural teeth are missing, there is nothing in the jawbone to stimulate bone growth. The body perceives the jawbone is no longer necessary and begins to dissolve it. This deterioration of the jawbone can quickly result in facial collapse, causing the lips to fold in and the lower face to wither up. This process makes a person look much older than they actually are. With implants, the entire tooth is replaced, this reproduces the feel and function of natural teeth and creates a strong, stable foundation that allows comfort when eating and speaking. Everything in the mouth looks natural. No one will know you have a new implant-supported smile.

Improving oral health can also improve your overall health. Dental implants help create a healthier mouth and help reduce periodontal disease, a bacterially induced chronic infection and inflammatory disease that does not resolve by itself. Left unchecked and allowed to worsen, it can lead to heart attacks, strokes, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes and other chronic diseases. Dental implants can immediately improve the health of your mouth. Since dental implants imitate natural teeth, the care for them is also similar. With routine maintenance and regular checkups, you can maintain your beautiful, healthy smile for a lifetime.

Replacing missing teeth with implant-supported crowns and bridges does not involve the adjacent natural teeth. However, tooth replacement with traditional tooth-supported bridges requires grinding down neighboring teeth, so that the bridge can be cemented onto them and into place. This natural tooth structure, once ground down, can never be replaced and the long-term health of these teeth are often compromised. Partial dentures have clasps that hook onto adjacent teeth, putting pressure on these teeth as the metal framework rocks back and forth. In addition, the clasps can erode the remaining gum tissue, causing even more harm. Eventually the teeth supporting the partial can loosen and fail as a result of this unnatural pressure.

If dentures and partials are replaced with implant-supported teeth, the overall enhancement in quality of life can be even more significant. Returned is the ability to eat all types of foods, even crunchy and sticky snacks. You'll never have to deal with messy adhesives or cleaning cups. Implant-supported replacement teeth never have to come out - not for daily cleaning, not for brushing and flossing, not for a medical exam or during a hospital stay, not for any reason at all. Be confident when eating, drinking and sleeping. Dental implants are permanent. Just like your new smile.

Kristine, a local area resident, shares how dental implants improved her quality of life:

"I had worn dentures for over 20 years because I had my teeth extracted in my teens. I got used to eating certain foods and not being able to eat others. My dentures were uncomfortable and slipped when I spoke. I avoided any social setting where I might have to speak. I never smiled and, of course, I would never eat in public. I had mouth sores continually and really began to withdraw from life.

"I did not want to live like that anymore. I chose to pursue dental implants and that decision has changed my life. I was surprisingly at ease when they placed implants on my upper and lower arches. My life has improved so much. The implants never hurt, they never slip and I can talk anywhere at any time. I love going out with my husband again and I am always ready to go out with my friends. I find myself smiling continuously.

"My lower jawbone had begun to deteriorate once I lost my teeth. My implants have stabilized my bone. My face no longer looks sunken in. I can taste salt and pepper on my food again as the dentures made it hard to taste. I am so grateful for the work the dental team has done for me. My implants are beautiful and I when I receive a compliment on my smile I just beam and say 'Thank you!'"

With the highest success rate of any tooth-replacement option and a track record spanning decades, dental implants are the best long-term solution to missing teeth. By utilizing biomechanically positioned multiple implants to share biting forces, implant supported bridges are a cost-conscious option for stable dental implant treatment with exquisite esthetic results. When properly cared for, implants can last the rest of your life - that's what makes them such a good value.

Surprisingly the procedure can be done in one day! Consult your dentist if dental implants or implant supported bridges sound like an exciting option for you.

For more information, call (509) 276-1992 or visit DrMillerDentistry.com.