Dental implants are a great option for replacing missing permanent teeth: they're attractive, low-maintenance and long-lasting. Dr. Ralph Mazzuca, your dentist in Washington, DC, goes into more details about the benefits of dental implants in this post.

Artificial but attractive

Someone you know might have dental implants, but you wouldn't necessarily realize it just by looking at them. That's because dental implants, like the kind used by your Washington, DC, dentist, are made to look just like natural teeth. Their hardware is hidden beneath your gum line, only visible on an X-ray, in the same place where a natural tooth's roots would be; all that can be seen is a porcelain crown that is carefully matched to the rest of your teeth's size and color.

Easy to maintain

Dental implants are quickly becoming the preferred way to replace missing teeth for both dentists and patients, and one of the main reasons is because they don't require special care. Unlike dentures and partials, they never need to be taken out for cleaning; they can simply be brushed and flossed in order to keep them clean and the gum tissue around them healthy. You also won't need to make appointments with your Washington, DC, dentist for periodic adjustments. In fact, they can last as long as several decades, even a lifetime.

Practical and permanent

The design of dental implants makes them as close to "the real thing" as possible. This means that the post of your implant mimics the function of a natural tooth's root. It not only keeps the tooth from shifting; it also keeps your jawbone healthy by providing minuscule movements every time your chew (again, like the root of natural teeth). As long as you maintain good dental hygiene and stay current with checkups at your Washington, DC, dentist's office, you can count on your dental implants to be a permanent restoration.

To learn more about how dental implants can help you, contact the dental office of Dr. Ralph Mazzuca in Washington, DC, for a consultation.