Losing a tooth due to injury, dental decay, or gum disease can happen. However, in order to avoid causing problems for the adjacent teeth and your overall dental health, it is important to replace the tooth that has been lost. This can be done a number of ways including fixed bridges, removable partial or full dentures as well as a more recent procedure known as dental implants.
One of the most significant dental innovations in recent times, an implant is a small surgical fixture made of biocompatible metal or ceramic materials that is placed into the jawbone and functions in the same manner as the root of a tooth. In the same way that natural root supports the natural crown of your tooth, an implant once it fully integrates with the surrounding bone, provides a stable and durable foundation for a replacement tooth. Implants often support a crown for an individual tooth, but can also be used as abutment teeth for a dental bridge, or strategically placed to help stabilize a denture.
Out of all of the restorative choices available today an implant comes the closest to replicating the look, feel and function of a natural tooth. Furthermore, it is the only method of tooth replacement that does not require the involvement or preparation of the adjacent teeth. A dental implant also stimulates bone remodeling to prevent shrinkage in areas where teeth are missing and helps to restore facial contours in areas where significant bone loss has occurred.
Single Tooth Dental Implant
In cases where a single tooth is missing, a dental implant supported crown is an effective replacement that replicates a natural tooth in almost every way. This approach can offer several benefits as compared to a traditional three unit fixed bridge by preserving the integrity of the adjacent natural teeth and preventing the progression of bone loss where a tooth has been lost. Additionally, a dental implant does not decay and cleaning the area can be easier than maintaining a fixed bridge.
Dental Implants to Replace Multiple Teeth
In cases where multiple teeth are missing or have been lost, dental implants can support fixed bridges or removable dentures.
Implant Supported fixed bridges
As opposed to a traditional fixed bridge, an implant-supported bridge preserves the integrity of the adjacent teeth and virtually stops the bone resorption process that naturally occurs where teeth have been lost. By maintaining the bone in the edentulous areas (the space without teeth), normal facial contours are supported and there is no appearance of a sagging or caved in look. As they are permanently anchored in the jawbone, implant supported bridges fully restore one’s natural biting and chewing capacity.
Implant-Supported Overdentures
When all of the teeth in the upper or lower jaw are missing, dental implants offer comfortable, stable and cosmetically pleasing solutions to restore a functional smile.
An implant-anchored overdenture is essentially a removable denture that clips on to either a ball or bar attachment in the front part of the jaw. The implant supported attachments help to provide added stability to the denture, keeping it in place and ensuring optimal comfort as well as function. Because the dental implants keep the denture from slipping or dislodging, there is no need to deal with any messy denture adhesives.
Full Arch Fixed Bridge
As an alternative to full dentures, a full arch fixed bridge anchored to multiple dental implants can offer a permanent solution in situations where all the teeth are missing or have been deemed non-restorable and need to be replaced. A full arch fixed bridge anchored to dental implants is a highly stable and cosmetically pleasing solution that lets you eat and function as you would with a full set of natural teeth.