Single Tooth Dental Implants
Why Replace A Missing Tooth?
Teeth can go missing for various reasons including severe decay, infection and trauma and is something that many people will experience during their lives. When this happens it is important to replace the missing tooth as soon as possible because the empty space in your mouth opens the door for the other teeth to start moving around which can come with serious side effects.
When a tooth goes missing, nearby teeth can start to tilt toward the empty space or the teeth in the opposite jaw may move up or down towards the space. This places stress on both the teeth and tissues in your mouth and teeth that have tipped are more difficult to clean making them more likely to decay. Missing teeth can also affect how you speak and chew your food. Trying to compensate and chewing food on only one side can increase the risks of a TMJ disorder or other jaw pain and problems.
Any natural teeth that need or have been extracted should be replaced as soon as possible! Call our office at (La Jolla) 858-455-7777, or (Chula Vista) 619-482-5555 or request an appointment online to come in and have us take a look. We can discuss all of your tooth replacement options and get your smile looking and functioning back to normal.
What Are Dental Implants
An implant is a titanium "root" which can be placed into the jawbone. Once integrated with your bone, the implant can be used to support a crown, a bridge, or secure a complete denture. Dental implants may be used to eliminate partial plates and dentures. Implants have been used successfully for over thirty years, have a high success rate and function and feel like your natural teeth. Dental implants are now the standard of care for replacing missing teeth. Dental implant treatment represents a slightly greater investment than conventional treatment; however, the benefits of implant therapy for most patients outweigh the minor additional cost involved.
Please visit our Implant FAQs to get answers to the most common questions about the dental implant process from the first consultation, to getting them places, and the final cost.
Single Tooth Implants
Do you have missing teeth? It is critically important to replace missing teeth. Eating and chewing with missing teeth can sabotage your bite and lead to incessant discomfort. Missing teeth can give rise to a mouth rearrangement that often results in facial changes that look decrepit.
A single tooth implant procedure may be done if a tooth has been extracted or is missing. A titanium implant base is placed into the jawbone to resemble the tooth root. We allow a period of time for the jawbone to heal over the implant base before fitting for a crown.
Next, an abutment is screwed into the base of the implant to allow for a crown to be fitted on top. Finally, a custom fabricated crown is placed over the abutment to function like a real tooth.
Dental Implants vs. Dentures vs. Bridges
Dental implants replace the entire tooth root without having to affect surrounding teeth. Dentures can not only look unnatural and feel unpleasant, but they require frequent dental visits for adjustments or even complete replacement. Additionally, full arch dentures lead to bone resorption (shrinkage) of the jaw thus changing your facial appearance and requiring even further treatment. Bridges require the surrounding teeth to be modified to place the bridge. Because a bridge does not replace the tooth root, gums and bone at the missing tooth site recede, leading to an unsightly and even embarrassing appearance. Dental implants are a permanent tooth replacement option that offers all the benefits of a real tooth and none of the problems experienced with dentures or bridges. Compare the benefits below...
| Tooth Replacement Option | Implants | Dentures | Bridges |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preservation of adjacent teeth | Yes | No | No |
| Bite-force transmitted to: | Jaw bone | Surrounding teeth & gums | Surrounding teeth |
| Keeps bone integrity & facial appearance | Yes | No | No |
| Requires frequent adjustments | No | Yes | Yes |
| Risk of damaging adjacent teeth | No | Yes | Yes |
Sinus Lift
The human skull has several cavities or air spaces called sinuses. When the sinus is enlarged and intrudes on areas where we want to place dental implants, bone or bone growth stimulation material is placed into the sinus. This procedure only affects the maxillary sinuses, which are located just over the molar teeth in the upper jaw. The side of the maxillary sinus is opened and the bottom is raised so it will fill in with bone. Several months later, dental implants can be placed in solid bone.
An "Osteotome Lift" is a surgical procedure that raises the floor of the sinus directly over where the implant is placed. This can be done without actually opening the sinus.
Bone Regeneration
When a tooth is lost, both bone and gum tissue compete for the vacant space. The gum tissue generates more quickly than bone, subsequently occupying the space. With a membrane placement we can keep the gum tissue from invading the space, which will ideally give the bone sufficient time to regenerate. Bone regeneration is often used to rebuild the supporting structures around the teeth, which have been destroyed by periodontal disease. Bone surgery may be used to attempt to rebuild or reshape bone. Grafts of the patient's bone or artificial bone may be used, as well as special membranes.
Socket Regeneration
When a tooth is extracted and an implant is to be placed (either simultaneously or in the future) it is always necessary to complete bone grafting within the residual sockets that are left behind after the roots of the tooth are removed. The shape of the tooth root is always different from the shape of a dental implant and hence there are always residual socket defects (holes) that must be filled in so that there can be excellent contact of the implant to the newly formed bone.
What is the cost of dental implant treatment?
The actual cost of dental implant treatment is based on a number of factors, such as the number of missing teeth being replaced, the type of implant supported teeth (treatment option) recommended and whether additional procedures are necessary to achieve the proper esthetic and functional result. The only way to accurately estimate the cost for an individual patient is to have an examination and consultation with your dental specialist. The total fee is usually comparable to other methods of tooth replacement; however, long-term, implant treatment is generally more cost effective than other options, such as bridges, partials and dentures that need to be replaced every 5-10 years.
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Life Smiles Dental Care would love to meet you and your family and provide you with the dental care you need and give you all smiles you deserve!
