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Replacing Teeth
Tooth extraction is quite common due to poor dental health and gum disease. Leaving the missing tooth space empty may not sound too serious, but the consequences of not filling in the space from the missing tooth can include:
- The teeth adjacent to your missing tooth can change position to fill the gap;
- The loss of your missing tooth's root can cause your jawbone to shrink, making your face appear prematurely older; and,
- A missing tooth in the front of your mouth can affect your smile and your self-confidence.
In many situations, a dental implant is the most pleasingly esthetic solution for replacing the missing tooth. An all-ceramic dental crown or dental bridge, secured to a dental implant, provides a complete and beautiful solution for improving your smile. A dental implant takes the place of the missing tooth's root and helps prevent the above consequences.
Benefits of Dental Implants
- Preserve natural teeth: With traditional dental bridges, teeth adjacent to missing teeth are normally ground down to be used as anchors for a dental bridge. Dental implants often eliminate the need to modify healthy teeth.
Tooth Replacement Options & Dental Implants
The surgical placement of dental implants is usually done in our office under local anesthesia. Most of our patients tell us that the placement of an implant is easier than having the original tooth removed. You always have the option of intravenous sedation or general anesthesia. This is ideal if you are apprehensive or are having a lengthy surgical procedure.
Recovery from the placement of an implant is no more complicated usually than removal of teeth. Healing times may vary depending on any additional procedures that are performed. Fortunately, most patients can wear a temporary bridge or denture during the healing phase.
It is important to realize that implants can develop gum problems similar to your natural teeth. Anything that may irritate oral tissues such as excessive alcohol use, smoking or chewing tobacco, may promote tissue breakdown and lead to implant failure. Therefore it is important to maintain excellent oral hygiene and follow our instructions regarding home care and follow up visits.
No surgery is without possible complications. When the procedures are performed by experienced practitioners the risk of complications is very low but we feel that you should be aware of them and we will discuss this with you prior to therapy.
We would like to emphasize that dental implants are a proven, practical means to tooth replacement and that dental implants have been documented as a predictable and effective treatment for over 30 years.
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