subject: A Dental Implant Is The Perfect Solution For A Missing Tooth [print this page] A smile with a significant gap between its teeth is unsightly. That gap will negatively impact a person's life in more ways than one.
First impressions from a person with a missing front tooth are disastrous. Most people who speak with someone who's missing a tooth or two can't get that fact off their mind - they start wondering how he or she lost the tooth and (more importantly) why they haven't replaced the tooth.
A missing tooth will also play on a person's self confidence and self esteem. Most people who have recently lost a tooth will be reluctant to smile when talking to someone new, and if you don't smile when you talk to people, you're going to give them a bad first impression.
A missing tooth will also affect the positioning of the adjacent teeth. Over time, they will move and shift out of their position and possibly negatively impact the person's bite.
There are two solutions for the replacement of a missing tooth. The first solution is a dental bridge. They are the cheap and quick fix. Dental bridges can last anywhere from 10 to 15 years and are relatively inexpensive. However, they have a set of very significant drawbacks.
The more expensive solution for replacing a missing tooth is to purchase a dental implant. The entire procedure is quite costly, and can take anywhere from 15 months to 24 months before it is complete. However, the cost and the time span are well worth the results because an implant can last anywhere from 40 years or longer. In fact, chances are good that the implant will outlast the patient's lifespan!
The first step for getting an implant is for your dentist to completely remove the old tooth. He may have to cut open your gum and remove any shards of tooth that may still remain beneath the gum. Next, he'll fill up the vacant pocket with a hardening agent. The agent will harden and bond to your jawbone, effectively eliminating the entire pocket where your tooth and its root were once located.
A pilot hole will then be drilled directly into the bonding agent. Your dentist will insert an implant post into that hole. The post will serve as an anchor for your new crown once it's ready to be installed. In the mean time, your dentist will install a temporary cover on the exposed portion of the implant post.
After you get the post installed, there's a good chance you won't see your dentist for another six to eight months. During that time, your bone will graft to the post (called Osseointegration). This process will permanently anchor the implant post to your jaw, making for a much stronger "root" for your new implant than your original tooth root.
The last stage is the removal of the temporary crown and the installation of the custom crafted crown onto the implant post. When you finally walk out of his office after that last visit, you'll have a brand new tooth! And that tooth will be fully functional and able to chew food as equally well as your remaining teeth, if not better.
Although it is the most expensive and the most time consuming process for replacing a missing tooth, a dental implant is the optimal choice.
If you or someone you know needs to get a tooth replaced, give your local dentist a call. Schedule a free consultation. He or she will gladly explain to you how the process works.
You should only make health-related decisions based on information you receive directly from a licensed, practicing dentist in your area. Don't rely on information you find on the internet! It can be outdated.
