Replace Missing Teeth With Dental Implants in Mobile, AL
Consider Dental Implants to Replace One or Multiple Missing Teeth
Losing a tooth or multiple teeth can make life more challenging. Not only can it become more difficult to eat your favorite foods, but having missing teeth can also affect your self-esteem. You may also find that with a missing tooth, the adjacent teeth may start drifting or crowding and your jawbone may begin to deteriorate.
If you find that you lost a tooth due to a traumatic incident or it is extracted due to a large cavity or periodontal disease, a dental implant may be the right choice for you. This realistic looking dental treatment can restore your smile, your oral health, and your confidence.
If you have lost or are missing multiple teeth and you're not a candidate for bridges or a denture, your dentist may suggest dental implants.
What Exactly Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are essentially a titanium screw that mimics a tooth root and is installed in the jawbone. A custom crown is placed on top of the implant, which replicates the appearance of a real tooth, while also providing the feel and function of an actual tooth. They look extremely similar to the surrounding teeth, and they blend perfectly into your smile.
The Benefits of a Dental Implant (and the Risks of Not Replacing Missing Teeth) This dental appliance is amazing for boosting your confidence and completing your smile — but those aren’t the only advantages. The insertion of a dental implant actually has a variety of benefits—some of which are vital to your comprehensive dental health.
Here are some benefits of dental implant placement:
- A complete, gorgeous smile
- A functional tooth that helps with the ability to properly chew food
- Improved speech (with the removal of dentures).
- Preservation of the jaw
Now that you know the benefits of undergoing a dental implant procedure, it’s important to understand what may happen if you do not have this restoration installed.
Some of the negative impacts of a gap in your teeth are:
- Change in face and structure
- Bone loss
- Teeth migration
- Lower self-esteem
- Difficultly eating food
Dental implants—while making your smile more aesthetically pleasing—may be necessary for the health of your jawbone, the surrounding teeth and your mouth overall. Our teeth AND BONE work hand in hand to hold each other in place. Upon losing a tooth, the surrounding bone will recede.
The Dental Implant Process
There are actually a few steps that go into the insertion of dental implants—the first of which being a consultation with your dentist who will review the many options for replacing a missing tooth.
If you have a tooth that needs to be removed, this may be a good time to ask your dentist if you are a candidate for implants. Certain steps may need to be taken to ensure the preservation of surrounding bone to provide for a more predictable implant insertion.
For example, if there is not enough bone present to predictably place the implant you may require an additional procedure called a graft.
Following the extraction your dentist may suggest that you have a special 3D dental CT scan performed to evaluate the remaining bone for implant placement. If the site is ready, the titanium implant will be surgically placed and undergo a healing period when it will properly integrate into the bone.
After a few months an impression is taken so that your crown can be fabricated at a lab custom for your mouth.
Dental Implants vs Bridges
There are a few different options for replacing missing teeth. Implants possess many advantages over choosing a dental bridge to restore a tooth borne space.
- Implants can help preserve, where bridges cannot.
- The process of installing an implant doesn’t require the aggressive grinding and reshaping of potentially healthy adjacent teeth.
- Bridges can be tedious to clean while an implant is cared for similar to a natural tooth.
While implants are generally a more predictable solution, there will be occasions where an implant is not an option or a bridge may actually be a more logical choice. There may not be enough bone in your jaw to properly support the implant or the teeth adjacent to the space may need to be restored with crowns. If this is the case, a bridge may be a valid alternative.
Are Dental Implants Right for You?
Like with any dental procedure, it’s important to schedule an appointment with your dentist to determine what is the most appropriate treatment for your specific need.
In order to determine if you are a candidate for implants your dentist may perform a periodontal screening to determine the health of your surrounding gum and bone.
A thorough medical history will be performed. If you have uncontrolled diabetes or take certain medicines for weak bones or osteoporosis you may have delayed healing or complications with the implant integration.
Smoking cigarettes will also decrease the success rate and prognosis of the implant. With a dental implant, not only will you avoid unnecessary bone loss and the potential for tooth movement or drifting, but you’ll feel like your smile is complete again, and the functionality of your bite will improve.
Other Dental Services West Mobile Dental Care Provides
Our office offers Preventative, Restorative, and Cosmetic Dentistry. From Periodontal treatment to improve your comprehensive oral health, to dentures, bridges, crowns, even root canals; We can provide you and your family the service you're looking for. Call to make an appointment.