Imagine a one-dollar bill with first President George Washington beaming brightly on its cover. An ear-to-ear smile isn’t the case currently, but it may have happened if today’s dental implants had been invented way back when.
 
To his credit, Washington was an early advocate for dentures, but the materials used then weren’t the best—especially for the poorer classes. But even the top-shelf fake teeth weren’t the best; think crudely cut hippopotamus ivory—they still weren’t much to smile about.

Today, thanks to modern science, you have the option of permanently replacing your teeth—and improving your smile—thanks to dental implant technology. 

Are you considering permanently improving your smile with the help of dental implants? If so, you’ve come to the right place, as we’ll break down some implant basics, so you can give your chompers something to smile about. 

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root implanted into your jaw to replace the natural tooth that was lost. One of the best things about dental implants is that they closely resemble the entire structure of your natural teeth. 

In fact, you may know someone who has dental implants, and unless they told you about them, you’d have no idea. 

A fractured smile is a definite kick to self-esteem, as teeth are perhaps the most notable feature of your face, this side of your nose.  But dental implants are a process so perfected that after just a few weeks many patients forget they had any issues with their teeth before!

Unlike dentures, dental implants are permanent, and you take care of them just as you would your natural teeth—by brushing and flossing at least twice a day. 

Also, dental implants are healthier for your natural teeth, since they don’t rely on the surrounding teeth for support. 

A little known consequence of tooth loss is jawbone deterioration. When your body registers the loss of a tooth, it reduces the nutrients that are sent to your jawbone, causing the bone to slowly deteriorate. While other replacement options fill the gap in your teeth, an implant replaces the lost tooth root as well, helping to prevent jawbone deterioration and the further loss of teeth.

Key Benefits:

• Since implants are permanent, there’s no need to worry about them coming out
• No need to rinse them or remove them at night
• Since implants replace the tooth root too, there’s no need to prevent jawbone deterioration 
• Implants don’t depend on any surrounding teeth for support
• You can keep undamaged teeth; unlike dentures, that require all teeth be removed