Even a single missing tooth can cause complex oral health concerns and 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 at 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 support other teeth in the same arch. They replace a lost tooth in either the upper or lower jaw.
A dental implant for a single tooth mimics both the structure and function of a natural tooth. Dental implants are the closest thing we have to replicating the look and feel of your natural 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 in Lexington, KY, who are missing only one tooth. Her implant treatment is the most natural option for 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 Bridge
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.
When placing a dental bridge, a dentist must prepare the adjacent teeth to support it. 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 jawbone, implant posts function just like a natural tooth root. As long as you continue to brush, floss, and visit our office regularly, your implants should stay in your mouth.
Unlike dental bridges, implants don’t sit on the gums. Instead, the implant posts fuse to the natural jawbone. Implants help to preserve the jawbone 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 a tooth and your mouth is in overall good health. If you are missing several teeth, however, your dentist will recommend full or partial dentures or dental implants. 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 support the implant.
- Your teeth must be healthy and not in need of any major work when 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.
Jawbone loss is common after the loss of a permanent tooth. We recommend bone grafting if you do not have enough healthy jawbone tissue to support implants. During bone grafting, we place the healthy jawbone in areas lacking sufficient jawbone.
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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 jawbone where the tooth was. Over a 3-6 month period, the titanium post will fuse with the natural bone. This will help support the jaw’s structure and provide a secure base for attaching a dental prosthetic.
Placing the Crown
Once your mouth has healed, Dr. Chambers will place the abutment. This piece will connect the implant post to the crown. Then, once you have fully healed, Dr. Chambers will secure a natural-looking dental crown on 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 single-tooth dental implant will allow patients to maintain normal oral hygiene, eat, and speak with confidence. The implant also provides long-term support for the jawbone to prevent 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: