Cosmetic Dentistry and Skin Care Blog

Why is it important to replace a missing tooth?

Bone loss and shrinkage of gum tissue can begin immediately following the loss of a tooth. In addition, the loss of a tooth frees up space in the mouth, allowing for other teeth to begin moving and shifting in to undesirable positions. This unfortunately can alter your bite and compromise the long-term stability of those teeth. It is vital to see a dentist immediately after the loss of a tooth to discuss the available implant and/or restoration options.

What are Dental Implants?

In the past, the options for restoring missing teeth were limited to removable dentures, which relied on suction of the gums or the support of neighboring teeth, or a fixed dental bridge, which required the reduction and restoration of teeth adjacent to the missing tooth area. Today, dental implants can provide a permanent cosmetic replacement for a missing tooth or several missing teeth. Implants look and feel like natural teeth and serve to restore the bite as well as improve chewing function.

In general, a dental implant consists of three parts. First there is the titanium post, which is secured into the jawbone. This post serves as the replacement "root" of the missing tooth. As the titanium dental implant is allowed to heal in the bone for several months, your bone fully attaches and fuses to the implant through a process called "Osseointegration". After this occurs, the gums are gently uncovered to expose the dental implant and a small healing cap is secured to the implant, allowing the implant to be slightly exposed in the mouth. Following this step, impressions are taken by your dentist and the laboratory will then fabricate a custom natural looking tooth crown made out of porcelain as well as a metal connector called an abutment which attaches the tooth crown to the dental implant itself.

For those who wear removable complete dentures due to having lost all of their teeth in the mouth or those who wear removable partial dentures for several missing teeth, dental implants can used to help retain and secure these dentures for a more stable bite. This allows people to chew and function normally without the fear of embarrassment if the dentures were to come loose or fall out.

How Predictable are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are very predictable with long-term success rates as high as 97%. Dental implants have been utilized in dentistry for over 30+ years and have become the "Gold Standard" for replacing missing teeth. In order to ensure the longevity of the dental implant and the health of the surrounding gum tissue around the implant, frequent professional cleanings are needed.

Things such as smoking, uncontrolled diabetes, and poor oral hygiene with chronic untreated periodontal disease are all important risk factors, which negatively impact the long-term success rate of dental implants.

Am I a Candidate for Dental Implants?

In order to determine if you are a candidate to have dental implants, a professional consultation is needed with your dentist. At this visit, radiographs "X-rays" will be taken along with a thorough clinical exam to determine if there is an adequate amount of bone required for dental implant therapy. The longer a person goes without a tooth, the greater the amount of bone loss occurs, making implant therapy more difficult. Often times an additional bone grafting procedure is performed either prior to or at the time of implant placement in order ensure that the implant is properly stable and secured within the bone as well as to obtain optimal esthetics of the gum tissue.