Gum disease in its most severe form is known as periodontitis. If you don’t care for your teeth appropriately for long periods of time, it’s not just the teeth that are negatively affected. As bacteria and plaque eat away at the gums, they also become diseased and unhealthy and it can ultimately affect your smile.

Periodontitis is an extremely common disease and is also a leading cause of tooth loss. Chronic inflammation is often the result of poor oral health care and eventually causes the teeth to fall out and the bone to dissolve. Fortunately, even if you have lost teeth from gum disease, you have a valuable option to replace them with dental implants.

What Are the Benefits of Implants?

When a tooth is lost, the root is also. The root is the part of the tooth that sits in the jaw and stimulates the bone to grow. Without it, the bone will die and crumble over time. This can mean that your other teeth shift and fall out and that your face structure changes. Dental implants can prevent that.

Implants are titanium rods and replace the root as they are implanted right into the jawbone. After a short period of healing, the rod connects with the bone and functions exactly as a natural root would, stimulating bone and protecting the teeth. This may be one of the most valuable benefits of implants.

While dentures are great for aesthetic replacements of missing teeth, they do nothing to address the underlying issue of bone loss. Implants function exactly as the natural teeth when they are placed correctly. They are also more durable and can last a lifetime with the right care.

Call Us Today

If you lost a tooth because of gum disease and want to learn more about how implants can improve your life and your oral health, call us at Nashville Periodontal Group to schedule an appointment with Dr. Akin. As a qualified periodontist in Brentwood, TN, he has extensive experience in placing implants.