Red Sea Bulletin Mar/April 2013

1) Besides my mental health, do implants have other effects on my health that differ from the overall health care provided by other treatments for tooth loss?

In addition to improving your self-esteem, dental implants will also make a big difference in your overall physical health and appearance.

As a result of losing one or more teeth, you inevitably lose mass in your jaw. This affects the overall skeletal structure of your face which not only changes your profile, but also may result in thin lips, drooping muscles, jowls or witch's chin. Spreading bone loss in the jaw affects the gums and ridges in your mouth, as well as the muscles and nerves in and around the mouth. These conditions, which are the inevitable consequences of tooth loss, are associated with a host of anatomic and clinical problems, ranging from increased tongue size, looseness of remaining teeth, loss of sensation, to severely painful conditions. These conditions may only be avoided through use of dental implants, because implants may halt and even reverse the bone loss that results from losing teeth.

2) Am I a dental implant candidate?

Dental implants are the perfect option for people missing one, two, or more teeth.

You may also be a candidate for dental implants if:

• You have problems with existing crowns or bridges
• You have loose dentures