When it comes to losing a single tooth, it can be pretty easy to shrug it off or delay addressing it. But things might change when you put it in perspective. Take an 18-wheeler driver, for example. Would the driver simply “shrug it off” if one of the tires on the truck fell off? No, because losing just one tire can affect the performance of the entire vehicle and potentially cause further damage. Your teeth are no different, as losing just one tooth can affect surrounding teeth and the health of your entire mouth.
Benefits of Single Dental Implants
Losing a single tooth obviously creates a gap in your mouth, but it also leads to adjacent teeth shifting and affects the structural integrity of your jaw and bones. That can lead to wrinkles, aging and further problems down the road. So what are your options when you lose a single tooth? A conventional bridge is a popular and affordable solution, but the process involves reforming adjacent teeth to hold the bridge. Single tooth implants, however, are the ultimate single-tooth replacement option.
Here are some of their benefits:
- They look and feel like your natural tooth.
- They replace your tooth’s root, preserving the bone in your jaw.
- They’re easier to clean than a bridge.
- They look and perform better in the long run.
Single tooth implants have even more benefits, one of which is the fairly easy procedure.
How Single Tooth Implants Work
The single tooth implant process can be broken down to four basics steps. Here is a breakdown of how single tooth implants work, from the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID):
- “Consultation and planning, including initial exam, imaging of your teeth, questions about your dental and medical history, and discussion of your treatment options.
- Placement of the dental implant, a substitute for the missing natural tooth root, either with or without a built-in abutment (a connector placed on, or built into, the top of the implant) that will attach to the replacement tooth. A temporary tooth can be placed while the dental implant integrates with your natural bone to form a strong foundation for your replacement tooth. Most people return to work the next day.
- Placement of the abutment, if one wasn’t placed during the prior visit.
- Placement of a custom-made crown, or replacement tooth.”
If you’d like to know more about single tooth implants, schedule a consultation with us today!