Do you suffer from the discomfort of a missing tooth or teeth? Oftentimes, missing a tooth in the visible esthetic area can impact a person’s confidence while speaking and smiling. Although missing a less visible tooth presents less esthetic concern, it can have a negative effect on your chewing ability or may cause adjacent teeth to sift position, thus creating new places for plaque and tarter to build up as well as the loss of bone and placing more stress on your remaining teeth.
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that is placed into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge. Dental implants are often an ideal option for people who have lost a tooth or teeth due to periodontal disease, an injury, or some other reason. Dental implants are so natural-looking and feeling, you may forget you ever lost a tooth.
If you are missing a single tooth, one implant and a crown can replace it. A dental implant replaces both the lost natural tooth and its root.
A dental implant provides several advantages over other tooth replacement options. In addition to looking and functioning like a natural tooth, a dental implant replaces a single tooth without relying on or sacrificing the health of neighboring teeth. The other common treatment for the loss of a single tooth, a tooth-supported fixed bridge, requires that adjacent teeth be prepared to support the bridge.
Because a dental implant will replace your tooth root, the bone is better preserved. With a bridge, the bone that previously surrounded the tooth will be lost overtime. Dental implants integrate with and provide stimulation to your jawbone, helping to keep the bone healthy and intact.
In the long term, a single implant can be more esthetic and easier to keep clean than a bridge. With a bridge your bone is lost in the area of a missing tooth and as a result your gums also recede you are left with visible defect that can lead to an unattractive smile.
Multiple Tooth Replacement
Implant Supported Bridges
If you are missing several teeth, implant-supported bridges can replace them. Dental implants will replace both your lost natural teeth and some of the roots.
Dental implants provide several advantages over other teeth replacement options. In addition to looking and functioning like natural teeth, implant-supported bridges replace teeth without support from adjacent natural teeth. Other common treatments for the loss of several teeth, such as fixed bridges or removable partial dentures, are dependent on support from adjacent teeth.
In the long term, implants are esthetic, functional and comfortable. Gums and bone can recede around a fixed bridge or removable partial denture, leaving a visible defect. Resorbed bone beneath bridges or removable partial dentures can lead to a collapsed, unattractive smile. In addition, removable partial dentures can move around in the mouth and reduce your ability to eat certain foods, this also tends to become a bigger and bigger problem as more and more of the bone that supports the partial denture is lost. An implant supported bridge will be much more stable than a partial denture.
In addition, because implant-supported bridges will replace some of your tooth roots, your bone is better preserved. With a fixed bridge or removable partial denture, the bone that previously surrounded the tooth root will be lost over time. Dental implants integrate with your jawbone, helping to keep the bone healthy and intact.
Full Arch Replacement
Implant Supported Bridges or Full Denture
If you are missing all of your teeth, an implant-supported full bridge or full denture can replace them. Dental implants will replace both your lost natural teeth and some of the roots.
Dental implants provide several advantages over other teeth replacement options. In addition to looking and functioning more like natural teeth, implant-supported full bridges or dentures are designed to be long lasting. Implant-supported full bridges and dentures also are more comfortable and stable than conventional dentures, allowing you to retain a more natural biting and chewing capacity.
In addition, because implant-supported full bridges and dentures will replace some of your tooth roots, your bone is better preserved. With conventional dentures, the bone that previously surrounded the tooth roots is lost. Dental implants integrate with your jawbone, helping to keep the bone healthy and intact.
In the long term, implant dentures can be more esthetic and easier to maintain than conventional dentures. The loss of bone that accompanies conventional dentures leads to recession of the jawbone and a collapsed, unattractive smile. A conventional denture makes it difficult to eat certain foods and as more and more of your supporting bone is lost over time dentures become less and less stable. An implant supported denture or bridge will be much more stable.