Tooth loss can significantly impact your lifestyle. Missing teeth will disrupt the look of your smile and make it difficult to complete oral functions. You may also be at risk of further oral health concerns unless you seek tooth replacement treatment from your dentist.
The most comprehensive way to restore your smile after tooth loss is through implant dentistry. Your dentist can offer several kinds of implants to suit your unique dental needs. Read on to discover three types of dental implants that your dentist can employ to replace your missing teeth.
Which Dental Implant Can Restore My Smile?
Single Dental Implant
If you need to replace one missing tooth, your dentist will likely recommend a single dental implant. Patients can receive more than one of this type of implant if needed to fully restore their smile though.
This device uses titanium post anchors which a dentist will surgically insert into a patient’s jaw. When these heal, they fuse with the bone in the jaw to make an ideal support for a prosthetic tooth in the form of a dental crown. The dentist secures this crown to an abutment above the gumline attached to the anchor.
Patients can enjoy a natural-looking and gorgeous finish with this tooth replacement treatment. They can see the gaps in their smile filled with prosthetics that will suit their unique smile.
Implant-Supported Dental Bridge
An implant-supported dental bridge will replace three or more missing teeth. The dentist will use two anchors for this restorative dental solution: one to support each end of the bridge prosthetic.
Dental patients can eat and speak with confidence again with these oral appliances. The secure fit ensures that they do not have to worry about the device slipping out of place when used. They can chew, bite, and talk without hindrance, enhancing their quality of life.
All-on-Four Dental Implant
The All-on-Four dental implant will serve as a replacement for an entire arch of teeth. Patients can receive this implant on the top or bottom arch or both if required. Dentists use four anchors, hence the name of this implant, to support a full arch of prosthetic teeth.
Removable dentures can restore some oral function as well as the appearance of a patient’s smile. But they only replace teeth above the gumline. The anchors of dental implants will replace the missing tooth roots.
This means that the anchors will keep the jawbone healthy, stopping bone loss that might otherwise occur in patients who have missing teeth. This way, patients can preserve the structure of their faces and smiles.
Some patients might have already lost too much bone in their jaw to support a dental implant. Your dentist will examine your jaw health through x-ray imaging during a consultation appointment. Then you can discuss your eligibility as well as your oral health goals with your dentist to learn if implant dentistry can help you.