Dental Implants for Single Tooth Replacement
At Dental Associates of New England, patients in and around the greater Boston area receive excellent dental care. We offer the basics when it comes to dental treatment as well as advanced restorative dentistry options like dental implants for missing teeth. We'd like to focus on dental implants in more detail right now, particularly when it comes to addressing a single missing tooth.
Problems Associated with Tooth Gaps and Missing Teeth
If you are missing a single tooth, you can experience the following issues:
- Self-Consciousness About Your Smile - If the missing tooth is prominent and up front, you may feel self-conscious about the tooth gap being so visible.
- Difficulty Biting or Chewing - Each tooth in the mouth has a role. A missing tooth may lead to a less optimal bite, or difficulty eating certain foods that you love.
- Gum Recession and Bone Loss - When a tooth goes missing, the gap left behind will often lead to loss of jawbone density and recession of the gums. This is because the root structure is no longer present for hard and soft tissues to support.
Should I get a missing tooth replaced?
Yes. It's always ideal to have a tooth that's missing replaced in order to improve the health and aesthetics of your smile. While a traditional dental bridge can address most of the issues noted above, only an implant-supported restoration can address all three.
Why Dental Implants Are a Superior Option to Consider
Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that are surgically placed into the jawbone and gum tissue. Anchoring this artificial root in place means that issues with bone loss and gum recession can be completely addressed. The dental implant also provides ample stability for a dental restoration, meaning it is less likely to shift while eating or speaking as a traditional/removable dental bridge.
For single-tooth replacements, the best option is the creation of a custom dental crown supported by a dental implants in the tooth gap.
Ideal Candidates for Implant-Supported Crowns
The best candidates for implant-supported dental crowns are people who are missing a single tooth. They should have sufficient jawbone density and gum tissue present in the tooth gap in order to support the implant when it is placed. If there is a deficiency in the hard and/or soft tissues in the tooth gap, gum grafting or bone augmentation can be performed to build up the missing tissue.
It's very important that patients have realistic expectations about implant dentistry process. It takes several months for the treatment to be concluded since the dental implants need to merge with the natural tissues of the mouth. Knowing this ahead of time makes patient satisfaction more likely.
Crafting a Custom Crown to Meet Your Needs
When creating the dental crown to be supported, we will carefully customize it based on dental records and dental x-rays. The crown will be carefully crafted in order to ensure optimal fit with any adjacent teeth as well as excellent contact with the teeth on the opposite dental ridge. Function and aesthetics will be considered to ensure the best possible care is offered.
Contact Dental Associates of New England
For more information about dental implants and how they can help you achieve excellent results if you are missing teeth, be sure to schedule a consultation at our cosmetic and restorative dentistry practice today. At Dental Associates of New England, we will be sure to discuss all options for care in much greater detail.