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The 411 On Single-Tooth Implants

7 November 2018 by Clifford Ramos

Whether via an injury while playing sports, car accident, or underlying dental issue, the loss of a tooth can be overwhelming. Not only will a missing tooth affect your appearance, but it can also lead to further dental complications, such as tooth decay and a shifting of your bite that requires orthodontic care. Thankfully, help is available if you are part of the 120 million Americans that are missing at least one tooth. With this guide, you will understand the process of placing single-tooth implants and the benefits of this method of smile restoration.

Process

Before you can understand how an implant is placed, you need to understand the components involved.

The actual implant is made out of titanium. Depending on the location of your missing tooth, this titanium rod is surgically placed in either the upper or lower part of the jaw bone.

The next part of your single-tooth implant is an abutment. This piece is attached to the implant with a screw that connects the crown to the actual implant. The abutment is made out of titanium, as well in most cases. However, gold and porcelain abutments are also available.

The final piece of the implant is the crown, or the actual restoration that resembles your tooth. The material used to create your crown will depend on a variety of things including your dentist and budget. For the most appealing and natural look, a crown created out of metal alloy and covered in porcelain is best. The crown is screwed to the abutment to complete the implant.

It is important to remember that placing a dental implant is not a quick procedure. There are many steps involved.

To get started, your dentist will make an incision in the gum tissue where the missing tooth was originally located. The implant is surgically placed into the jaw where it will fuse to the actual bone over a period of time, which can take a few weeks.

Once the titanium implant has fused completely into the jaw bone, your dentist will place the abutment and crown to complete the implant process.

Benefits

One of the most obvious benefits of an implant is how it can improve your smile. Even if you have lost a tooth in the back of your mouth, restoring your smile with a single-tooth implant will improve your ability to smile bigger and better.

Of course, you can always replace this one tooth with dentures. However, a single-tooth implant offers a more ideal form of smile restoration than dentures.

Single-tooth implants become part of your smile in a more natural manner, since the implant itself fuses to the jaw bone. This is unlike dentures that are temporary and not worn throughout the day and night. Because they become part of your natural smile, implants are also more comfortable than dentures, which shift and irritate the gum tissue and inside of the mouth.

Unlike dentures or bridges, dental implants have a much longer life span, making them a more permanent option in smile restoration. Bridges last around 10 years, but dental implants can last a lifetime. It is wrong to think replacing one tooth with a bridge is easier and more affordable. The improved appearance and more permanent restoration ensure the extra cost of a single-tooth implant is a worthwhile investment.

Remember that restoring your smile with an implant is not just about your appearance. With proper placement and care, your implants will ensure the gap left behind by a missing tooth cannot affect adjacent teeth or your bite.

From an improved appearance and decreased risk of decay and misaligned bites, implants are a great investment. For more information on single-tooth implants, talk to your dentist today. 

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