Can Dental Implants Help You Live Longer?

If you’re missing a tooth or two, you’re certainly not alone. According to the American College of Prosthodontists, approximately 178 million Americans are missing at least one tooth, while roughly 40 million don’t have any natural teeth left at all. Tooth loss can make it difficult to eat comfortably and smile confidently, but it can also have a detrimental impact on your overall health and lifespan as well. Thankfully, dental implants in Longview may be able to help you live longer by rebuilding your teeth from the roots up! Read on as we go over how this state-of-the-art treatment improves your health more than any other tooth replacement option.

Missing Teeth & Your Lifespan

There are plenty of factors that influence your lifespan. However, recent studies have discovered an undeniable connection between how many teeth you have and how long you can expect to live. For instance, researchers found that patients who had lost five or more teeth by the age of 65 were statistically more likely to suffer from serious health conditions that are associated with a reduction in life expectancy, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis. The Oral Health Foundation also conducted recent studies that indicate people who have all their teeth at the age of 74 years old are significantly more likely to reach the age of 100 than those missing one or more teeth.

Dental Implants: The Most Lifelike Tooth Replacement

While there are plenty of ways to replace your missing teeth, not all are equally beneficial to your health. In fact, dental bridges and dentures can potentially harm your long-term wellbeing and increase your risk of gum disease and oral cancer. If you’re looking for the next best thing to your natural teeth, there’s no better tooth loss solution than dental implants.

Dental implants are the only tooth replacement option that rebuilds the entire structure of your missing tooth both above and below the gumline. The end result is a replacement tooth that looks, feels, and functions just like a natural tooth in practically every way. While research is ongoing, the initial findings show that rebuilding teeth with dental implants can help you avoid the conditions associated with tooth loss that lead to a shorter lifespan.

Other Ways Dental Implants Improve Health

Not only do dental implants have the potential to increase your life expectancy, but they offer a variety of other important health benefits as well, like:

• Prevent jawbone deterioration: Dental implants are the only tooth replacement that stimulates the jawbone and prevents its deterioration after tooth loss.
• Prevent further tooth loss: Keeping a strong, healthy jawbone will help keep your remaining healthy teeth in place.
• Stop dental drift: Dental implants support your teeth and keep them in place without causing tooth sensitivity or gum irritation.
• Allow you to eat a full, varied diet: With dental implants, you can eat virtually anything you want to maintain a balanced, full, and healthy diet.
• Encourage better oral health: Since dental implants are easy to care for, the reduce your risk of oral health issues like cavities and gum disease.
• Promote better overall health: Studies show that better oral health has a significant positive impact on your overall health and wellbeing.

If you’re interested in this life-changing treatment, talk to your Longview dentist today to see if dental implants are right for you!

About the Practice

Dr. George R. Stoddard has been helping the smiles of Longview and the surrounding communities stay happy and healthy for over 25 years. He is proud to offer his patients the best dental care available with a variety of advanced dental treatments and the latest dental technology. He also partners with local specialists for procedures like dental implant surgery to ensure you enjoy the smoothest, most pleasant treatment and the best results possible. To learn more about how dental implants can change your life, he can be contacted online or at (903) 753-9758.