Single Tooth Implant Replacement

Losing a tooth is a difficult experience to go through. Thankfully, modern dental technology offers an amazing replacement option; the titanium implant. Once restored with a crown, the implant looks, feels and acts like your natural tooth. The titanium post is implanted into the jawbone in the position of the lost tooth. After a period of healing, an abutment and crown are made to fit on top of the implant and are secured. An abutment is a custom made titanium piece that connects the crown to the implant itself. Unlike a bridge as a replacement option, an implant does not disturb the neighboring teeth on either side of the lost tooth. Being a stand-alone entity, implants are far easier to keep clean as well.

A missing tooth can make neighboring teeth shift or grow in the gap.

A missing tooth can seriously affect a person’s quality of life. When our smile or appearance suffers, so too does our self-confidence as we become more self-conscious. We may find that we can no longer eat certain foods that we once enjoyed before. And, we may notice shifting of the adjacent teeth around the remaining space. Healthy teeth are constantly making very tiny movements in the mouth which stimulate the gums and jaw bone. When a tooth is lost, the stimulation there is lost as well, causing the jaw bone to start shrinking and the gum line to recede. Teeth in the opposing jaw are affected as well, as they tend to slowly move up or down into the remaining space. It is important to be aware of these consequences that can occur by choosing not to replace a lost tooth.

Although an implant is an amazing replacement option, not everyone is a candidate. Dr. John will help you to determine if an implant is a viable treatment option.