8 Signs That You Need Dental Implants and Why Early Action Matters

Most people perceive tooth loss as a random, unfortunate phenomenon, but that’s definitely not the case! The body has its own way of warning you against the catastrophe of tooth loss. It sends you subtle signs — signs that you need dental implants — but the signs are often ignored!  The result? Tooth loss and an overall grim future for your oral health! People should understand that losing a tooth (or even the stability of one) isn’t just a cosmetic hiccup; it means putting their entire oral health at stake, in ways they don’t understand or even notice. 

Unfortunately, implants are only considered when things go out of hand (i.e. when enough damage is done and the need for permanent dental replacement becomes explicitly evident).  At that point, the treatment can be much more complex and costly than if you had paid attention to the red flags that you earlier dismissed or mistook for temporary issues. What are these signs and why is it crucial to act on them? Let’s find out in this blog! 

What Exactly Are Dental Implants?

First things first: what are dental implants? These are screw-shaped posts (made of Titanium/Zirconia) that are surgically anchored into a toothless jaw, substituting missing tooth roots. 

When we say that implants ‘substitute’ missing tooth roots, we mean they not only replace the roots physically but also mimic their function in essence: they integrate artificial teeth (such as crowns, bridges and dentures) — just like natural tooth roots integrate natural teeth. This integration brings about a holistic tooth replacement. 

Consider this simplified equation: Dental implants = artificial tooth roots = replace missing tooth roots + support artificial teeth 

Implants fuse directly with the jawbone and become a permanent part of it, ready to be loaded with a prosthesis (artificial teeth). As such, the implants serve as the foundation for a near-natural tooth replacement that is wholly self-sufficient (as they don’t rely on neighboring teeth for support) and immaculately durable! They can last for decades if maintained well!

For this reason, implants are by far considered the ideal solution to any type of tooth loss.

8 Signs You May Need An Implant

As we discussed earlier, the body is pretty proactive at alarming you about future health issues, and your dental health is no exception to the rule. 

It’s unfortunate how people only take their oral health seriously when hit with obvious tooth loss when their body literally has been sending them warning signs all along.  Only if they listened!

But it’s never too late. You can still educate yourself about these signs (and get implants sooner rather than later) to have a positive prognosis for your future smile. By getting implants on time you’ll not only save your smile but also your precious time and money (which you’d be expected to spend extra in case you get implants later in life).

These are the signs:

You’re already missing a tooth or two.

It sounds obvious, but it’s actually pretty underrated because people tend to dismiss tooth loss unless it affects multiple teeth. What they fail to understand is that even a single missing tooth triggers a cascade of bone resorption, causing adjacent (apparently healthy) teeth to shift within months! An implant would plug the gap left by the missing tooth and put an end to this domino effect once and for all.

You have teeth that are cracked vertically/below the gumline

 These cracks are often caused by unexpected trauma to the teeth (via falling or experiencing mouth injury) and can’t be filled by regular root canals and/or fillings in most cases. Hence, an early extraction followed by implant + crown is the most predictable route to regain full functionality.

You have a root canal treated tooth that keeps getting infected over and over again.

Technically, such teeth are restorable and the dentist can keep reperforming the root canal treatment (until it’s successful) but at times it’s a total lost cause. Even if the root canal becomes successful (at the 3rd or even 4th attempt), the infection can still come back for the 5th time because of leftover residual bacteria. Replacing this tooth with an implant crown eradicates the infection source and offers a clean solution!

You feel extreme tooth mobility

It’s common in older adults so it’s often taken as normal, but it’s not! It’s a sign of something deeper and more serious, such as advanced gum disease or even uncontrolled diabetes. Bone grafting or splinting are often considered to reduce mobility, but these procedures only fix the issue for the time being. A permanent solution is to perform thorough gum therapy to firm up and stabilize the gums. Then, strategically remove the hopeless tooth and replace it with an implant supported crown.

You’re tired of your dentures slipping while you eat, and you crave a moment of blissful, natural eating ability

Unfortunately, implants are only considered when other (read: cheaper) alternatives are exhausted and have failed to meet your needs! An implant-supported denture will definitely cost you more but will provide you with 100x better functionality and aesthetics. A day of using implant dentures is literally superior (in terms of efficiency) to a year of using traditional ones! 80-90% of your natural chewing power will be regained by implants.

You’re contemplating getting a traditional bridge

With all due respect, don’t! If you look closely, traditional bridges demand shaving down ‘healthy’ neighboring teeth, which is not at all a wise approach to treating tooth loss. It’s like deliberately drowning yourself in deep waters just to keep your loved one afloat! If the idea makes you cringe and you want your remaining healthy teeth untouched, getting an implant is your best bet! 

Tooth loss makes you appear old and feeble

The jawbone loss that follows tooth loss causes a drift in your overall facial profile. It shortens facial height, creates premature wrinkles and gives your face a sunken appearance. Restoring tooth roots with implants will stimulate your jawbone and support soft tissues, delivering a sort of a ‘facelift’ effect that makes you look younger.

You’ve started experiencing tension headaches and TMJ pain after tooth loss

It’s all linked to the misalignment in your jaws and how your upper and lower teeth meet (known as malocclusion), which is a common consequence of tooth loss. Implants can easily solve this issue by restoring proper arch length and redistributing forces among the jaws equally.

Why Early Action Matters 

You know the 8 warning signs, you can even see a few in yourself very vividly! Now what’s next? 

It’s time to ‘act’ — intercept the problems that we discussed before they snowball and turn into major oral health hazards! Getting dental implants is the only way to prevent this from happening. 

Taking the specified action early will:

• Preserve your jawbone and remaining healthy teeth
• Prevents your natural teeth from drifting, tipping, or over erupting.
• Saves you from costly bone grafts and additional surgeries down the road 
• Transform loose, inefficient dentures into fitted, efficient ones. 
• Protect facial contours and evens out jaw alignment 

Conclusion

 In conclusion, the sooner you move from noticing these warnings to seeking an implant consultation, the simpler, less invasive, and more predictable your treatment becomes! And the faster you get back to smiling, eating, and living without compromise.

Still have questions? Schedule a FREE consultation with Dental Care And Implants. Talk to our team of implant experts and pave your way to a healthy and beautiful smile!