Single Tooth Implant
Tooth loss, no matter if it is one or several, is a big deal. However, many people tend to think that losing a single tooth is not that big of a deal, particularly if that tooth is out of view when they smile. The truth, however, is that no matter where the tooth is lost, it can significantly impact your life. Moreover, even if it does not affect your smile right away, it can do so over time. If you are missing a single tooth, Simon K. Choyee, DDS, Inc. can help with a single tooth implant.
Effects of Tooth Loss
Losing a tooth has several significant effects on your life, even if the tooth cannot be seen when you smile. Effects of tooth loss include:
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Difficulty biting and chewing. Chewing is the first step in digestion, necessary for breaking down everything you eat to make the nutrients accessible for your body to digest. The inability to chew properly leads to difficulty digesting, which can then affect your nutrition.
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Food can get stuck in the empty space, increasing your risk for tooth decay and gum disease.
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Your bite pressure becomes uneven, increasing your risk for tooth damage.
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Your speech may be impacted.
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Your jawbone loses mass, which causes the jaw to change shape. Even if your missing tooth is out of view, your teeth begin to shift out of alignment. Not only does this impact your smile, but it also alters your bite, leading to bruxism and TMJ pain. |
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are a treatment for replacing missing teeth. This particular treatment is a modern alternative to traditional bridges and dentures. It uses small titanium posts, which are surgically placed into your jawbone. Your bone fuses to the posts, a natural process called osseointegration. This process turns the posts into stable roots that are then used to provide your dental restorations with secure support. Dental implants can be used to replace any number of teeth, including just one.
Getting Your Dental Implant
A single tooth implant is placed in a surgical procedure, which is done under a local anesthetic as well as sedation. Surgery begins with a small incision in your gums, which provide us with access to your jawbone underneath. A hole is drilled into your jawbone, and the implant post is placed inside. After your gums are sutured closed, a temporary tooth is placed.
Healing from surgery can take several weeks. During this time, several follow-ups allow us to monitor the fusion of your jawbone to the post as well as make sure that there are no complications. Once you have fully healed, the temporary tooth is removed and an abutment, or connector, is placed. An impression of your mouth is taken and used to create your final restoration. When it is ready, the restoration is secured into place with a small screw.
Benefits of a Single Tooth Implant
A single tooth implant provides several benefits.
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You are able to bite and chew normally again.
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Your speech is restored.
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Your dental restoration looks exactly like the rest of your real teeth.
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There is no need to alter the structure of the adjacent teeth.
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Your tooth is supported by the implant post rather than your adjacent teeth.
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The post restores stimulation to your jawbone. This aids in stopping and preventing bone loss in your jaw. Your jaw remains strong and secure, and your healthy teeth remain in proper alignment. |
Even if you are only missing a single tooth, it is essential that you get that tooth replaced as soon as possible. For more information and to find out of a single tooth implant is right for you, call Simon K. Choyee, DDS, Inc. today at (562) 947-4781. |
