If you play sports, you have to stay mobile and adaptable. Whether you’re running, bobbing, weaving, dodging, dipping, tackling, wrestling, or slam dunking, your body is on the move and directing considerable force. It’s no secret that athletes can get hurt at play, and all too often they can lose teeth in the sports they love.
If an athlete wants to replace missing teeth, traditional solutions can leave a lot to be desired. Here in the Twenty-First Century, dental implants are the name of the game. With proper care (and a good mouthguard!), you will never have to worry about dental implants falling out of your mouth during play. Read on to find out more about why dental implants are the ideal tooth replacement solution for athletes.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are titanium posts placed into the jawbone below the gumline. After being surgically placed, the post and the jawbone fuse together through a natural process called osseointegration, which provides a secure foundation for an artificial tooth made of porcelain or zirconia. The restoration mimics the strength, color, luster, and shape of natural teeth, blending seamlessly into your smile and leaving strangers completely unaware that you have implants at all.
How Would I Care for Dental Implants?
While the strong materials used make them immune to tooth decay themselves, gum disease can cause the mouth to reject dental implants. They can still build up plaque that can lead to infection and decay of neighboring natural teeth. This is why it is completely necessary to continue brushing twice and flossing once a day while avoiding bad oral habits like soda and smoking.
After receiving dental implants, your dentist will probably want to see you more than twice a year, especially in the first two years after the procedure. This is to make sure that the gums remain healthy and minimize the risk of rejection. If a dental implant fails, the only course of action is to remove it and try again.
What Makes Dental Implants Great for Athletes?
Dental implants are ideal for athletes because they are as secure in the mouth as natural teeth. Greater frequency of dental visits aside, their maintenance is not much different from that of natural teeth. They’ll make you look great on the covers of those magazines and in all those commercial promos. Dental implants are the winners’ circle of tooth restoration, and that’s a great place for an athlete to be.
About the Author
Dr. Shue Her earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. He has pursued advanced training by learning Chao Pinhole Surgery from the inventor himself, studying Full Arch All-On-4 implant restorations at the 3D Dentist Institute, and becoming certified in oral and IV sedation through DOCS. He serves the oral health needs of the community of Gainesville, GA. For more information on dental implants, contact his office online or dial (770) 536-6688.