You remember your grandparents’ dentures … sitting in a glass, soaking … until they would put them in their mouths. Their smiles looked mostly natural, but you knew their teeth weren’t real because of how they ate their food.

You never expected to be in a similar position. Yet, it’s happened. You’ve lost teeth, too. Maybe you are missing a whole row of teeth.

Regardless, you want better replacement teeth than your grandparents had. You want implant-supported dentures. We can help you get them at our Decatur, AL dental office.

Call 256-274-8680 today to schedule a consultation with Charles F. Betts Jr., DMD.

What Implants Are

August is Dental Implant Month, which is why we are taking a moment to celebrate what they can do for your smile. Implants are the pieces that were missing from your grandparents’ dentures.

Traditional dentures rest over your gums. They replace the crowns of your lost teeth, but they don’t replace the roots.

As a result, dentures are resting on a slippery surface. They can and will slide out of position, which can make eating and speaking both complicated and frustrating. You can try using an adhesive, but that only provides a limited and temporary improvement.

Implants replace the roots of your lost teeth. They are placed directly in your jawbone, and they will keep your dentures stable and secure — no adhesive required!

Why Implants Make Dentures Better

One of the most common problems when someone loses his or her teeth is something you can’t see directly. When you lose teeth, you will start to lose bone in your jaw as well.

As your jaw gets smaller, this changes the appearance of your face, and it can affect how dentures fit in your mouth. Implants can prevent this loss of bone mass and keep you from looking older than you are.

When you have implants, you press them into your jawbone every time you bite or chew. This recreates the stimulation your jaw used to receive when you had roots. That pressure causes your jaw to make new bone tissue, which prevents your jaw from shrinking.

Your healthy jaw also bonds to your implants. This is why you are able to eat the foods that you want to eat. With that direct connection from your jaw to your dentures, you can put more force behind every bite. So, you don’t have to give up any of your favorite foods.

Don’t Give Up on Your Smile

Many people with missing teeth have come to Dr. Betts’s office for help. Some were too embarrassed to smile. Some were frustrated that they could no longer eat the foods that they loved.

With implants, you can eat, speak, and smile naturally again. You shouldn’t feel like you have to hide your mouth when you are talking to other people. Restorative dentistry has come a long way since our grandparents’ time.

Instead, you can have the closest thing you can get to a new set of real teeth.

Call 256-274-8680 or contact us online today. Schedule a consultation, and find out if implants are right for you.