Dental Implants – Superior for Single Tooth Replacement and More

Missing teeth leave gaps in your smile and your self-esteem. When teeth are accidentally lost or deliberately extracted due to severe disease, it can cause bite problems, bone loss that affects your facial structure, and shifting of your other teeth. A dental implant restoration can replace a single missing tooth and its root. If you have multiple teeth missing, several single implants or an implant-supported denture or bridge can restore your smile without harming your other teeth. Besides looking and functioning exactly like a natural tooth, dental implants offer several other advantages.

Advantages of Dental Implants and Implant Dentures

A standard fixed bridge is sometimes used to replace single teeth, but it requires that healthy supporting teeth be ground down. A dental implant doesn’t involve adjacent teeth; it is stabilized by the jawbone. Because implants integrate with the living bone, they help it stay healthy and intact, and prevent bone loss. With bridges, bone that previously surrounded the tooth deteriorates. Bridges are also associated with aesthetic problems. Gums typically recede around a bridge, leaving an unpleasant visible defect. Cement that secures the bridge can wash out and allow bacteria to attack and decay the anchoring teeth. Like implant-supported bridges, implant-supported full and partial dentures don’t compromise the health of adjacent teeth, and they never slip or make noise like standard removable dentures.

How Dental Implant Surgery Works

Successfully placing dental implants usually requires several procedures over the course of six to nine months. The first step is placement of a titanium screw into the jawbone. The implant is covered with gum tissue and allowed to fuse with the bone for a period of two to six months. Next, the implant is uncovered and an extension called an abutment is attached. After a short healing period, a custom-made crown created to look like your natural tooth is cemented into place, completing your implant procedure.

Your Dentist Knows the Best Dental Implants for Your Smile

Each patient’s needs are different, so your procedure may not be exactly the same as what is described above. When conditions allow, some steps may be combined. Your dentist in Owings Mills will evaluate your case, and determine the best treatment plan.

To learn about our family dentistry practice in Owings Mills, call Valley Dental Associates today at (443) 898-1240 or make an appointment.