Why Dental Implants Are the Gold Standard for Tooth Replacement
A missing tooth does more than affect your smile. It can lead to bone loss in your jaw, shifting of nearby teeth, and changes to your bite. Dental implants are the only tooth replacement option that stimulates the jawbone like a natural root, preserving your facial structure and preventing future dental problems.
Benefits of Choosing a Specialist for Implant Surgery
When you choose a board-certified oral surgeon for your dental implant, you get a level of training and experience that general dentists cannot provide. Our surgeons have completed years of specialized residency training beyond dental school, including advanced surgical techniques and implant placement. All three doctors are U.S. military veterans who served as attending surgeons at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, one of the country’s top oral surgery training programs. This means your implant is placed by a surgeon who has performed thousands of procedures and taught others to do the same.
What Happens If You Delay Replacing a Missing Tooth
Waiting too long to replace a missing tooth allows the jawbone to shrink where the root once was. Neighboring teeth may tilt into the gap, leading to bite problems and making future restoration more complex. The bone loss can also limit your implant options without grafting. Addressing the gap sooner rather than later gives you the best chance for a smooth, long-lasting result.