Even a single missing tooth can cause complex oral health concerns, as well as overall health issues. It can compromise your remaining teeth and make you feel self-conscious about your smile. From chronic halitosis to an increased risk of developing gum disease, a single missing tooth is both a cosmetic and oral health concern. The sooner you seek treatment for your missing tooth, the more effective and conservative your treatment can be. If you have a missing tooth, we can provide a single tooth dental implant in our Lexington, KY, dental office.
Are You Missing a Single Tooth?
A single tooth dental implant is a restoration that can replace a single missing tooth. Single tooth dental implants can provide support for other teeth on the same arch. They replace the lost tooth on either the top or bottom jaw.
A dental implant for one tooth mimics both the complete structure and function of a natural tooth. Dental implants are the closest thing we have to replicating the feel and look of your real teeth. It helps provide structural AND functional support while enhancing the aesthetics of your smile. Dental implants are an investment in your health, confidence, and overall well-being.
Dr. Morgan Chambers offers single dental implants for our patients missing only one tooth in Lexington, KY. Her implant treatment is the most natural option to replacing a single missing tooth. Implants can replace a lost tooth because of an accident, tooth decay, or gum disease.
Single Dental Implants vs. Dental Bridges
The traditional option for replacing a single missing tooth is a dental bridge. A traditional bridge consists of a false tooth supported on either side by natural teeth. Dental crowns cover the natural teeth to keep the false tooth stable.
With dental bridges, a dentist must prepare the adjacent teeth to support the bridge. This means the dentist may etch away a healthy tooth. Implants do not require any alteration of the adjacent teeth. This helps preserve natural healthy teeth.
Implants also offer a long-lasting solution for replacing a missing tooth. Because they are anchored into the jaw bone, implant posts function just like a natural tooth root. As long as you continue to brush, flsos, and visit our office for regular visits, your implants should stay in your mouth.
Unlike dental bridges, implants do not lay on the gums. Instead, the implant posts fuse to the natural jawbone. Implants help to preserve the jaw bone by stimulating natural bone growth. This also prevents bone loss, which can occur with bridges.
Who is A Candidate for Dental Implants for One Tooth?
You are a good candidate for dental implants if you have lost one tooth but your mouth is in overall good health. If you are missing several teeth, however, your dentist will suggest full dentures, partial dentures, or dental implant prosthetics. To learn more about implants for many teeth, see Dental Implants For Multiple Teeth.
But how do you know if you’re a candidate? Here are some things to consider:
- You need to be in overall good health.
- You must have enough bone in your jaw to support the implant restoration.
- The root structure of your missing tooth needs to be strong enough to hold the implant in place.
- Your teeth must be healthy and not in need of any major work at the time you start this process.
- You could need two or more appointments with your dentist, as well as some work by an oral surgeon.
Before implant treatment, we will ensure you are in good oral health. If needed, we will extract a severely infected or damaged tooth, treat gum disease, or fill cavities before treatment.
Jaw bone loss is common after losing a permanent tooth. We recommend bone grafting if you do not have enough healthy jaw bone tissue to support implants. During bone grafting, we place the healthy jaw bone in areas lacking sufficient jaw bone.
The Single Dental Implant Process
A dental implant is a titanium post that replaces the missing root structure. The process of getting single implants starts with an oral examination and X-rays. Dr. Chambers will then determine if you are a good candidate for the procedure. She may recommend pre-treatments if needed.
Dental Impressions
If you are a candidate for dental implants, Dr. Chambers will take an impression of your mouth and send it to the dental lab. The lab will turn the impression into a model of your mouth, which they will send back to our dentist for review. Dr. Chambers will study the model before creating a treatment plan.
Implant Surgery
Next, Dr. Chambers will remove the damaged tooth from your mouth if it is still there. Then, she will surgically plant the implant post into the jaw bone where the tooth was. Over a 3-6 month period, the titanium post will fuse with the natural bone. This will help it support the structure of the jaw and provide a secure base for the attachment of a dental prosthetic.
Placing the Crown
After your mouth heals, Dr. Chambers will place the abutment. This piece will connect the implant post to the crown. Then, once you fully heal, Dr. Chambers will secure a dental crown to the implant post.
The custom-designed crown will fit seamlessly with the rest of your teeth. A dental implant provides natural tooth-like results when it replaces a missing tooth.
A one-tooth dental implant will allow patients to maintain a normal oral hygiene routine and eat and speak with confidence. The implant also provides long-term support for the jaw bone to deter deterioration of the facial structure.
Request a Dental Appointment Today
Dr. Chambers can recommend the best treatment option to replace your missing tooth after a comprehensive exam. We will only recommend what best suits your needs and budget. Get a single tooth dental implant in Lexington, KY.
Call our team at Complete Dentistry For All Ages at 859-251-3809 today. If you have questions about treatment, let us know at your next visit.
To discover more about implant dentistry, see: