When you have lost just one tooth, we can still offer implant solution to restore the function, beauty, and health of your smile. In today’s blog, your Livonia, MI, dentist is going to explain how we address individual lost teeth with an implant and crown, and what you should expect from this procedure.
Placing a Dental Implant
What makes this option different is that we don’t need crowns attached to abutment teeth to keep them in place. Instead, we insert what is essentially a new tooth root. Made from titanium, this small screw-like and biocompatible post is surgically inserted into the jawbone. Through a process known as osseointegration, the body accepts it as a new root and it bonds with the jawbone. This stimulates the growth of jawbone tissue, preventing the loss of mass and density in your jaw that could follow tooth loss. Your new root can stay in place for decades to come, and for some patients, even a lifetime!
Creating Your Restoration
Once osseointegration takes place, which could be between four and six months, we will add an abutment to the tooth that secures a dental crown. The custom-made restoration is the visible part of your tooth, the one people see when you smile and the one that make chewing food possible. We create it from lifelike materials tinted it to blend with your smile. We use durable materials that can absorb bite forces as well, and we will have guided the post into a position to better withstand pressure and bite forces too. When you smile, you will do so with confidence, and no one will be able to tell you have a replacement tooth.
Addressing Underlying Oral Health Issues
Prior to placement, we will look for underlying factors that may have impacted your tooth loss, such as decay, infection, or periodontal disease. Before we move forward with tooth replacement, we need to manage these issues with general and restorative dentistry. That way you avoid implant failure, and protect the remaining natural teeth too. If you have one or more missing teeth, then schedule a consultation so we can examine your smile and see if you benefit from care. We can also answer any questions you have about implant dentistry, or about what you need to do to ensure your new teeth last for many years to come.
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT IMPLANTS AND CROWNS?
Even one lost tooth could mean trouble unless addressed with a quality dental prosthetic. To learn more about replacing a single missing tooth, or addressing several at once, then call James Stewart, DDS, dental implant office in Livonia, MI, at (734) 425-4400. We also serve the residents of Farmington, Plymouth, Dearborn Heights, and all surrounding communities.
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