Sometimes accidents happen, and people end up losing one of their teeth. Our smiles have a big impact on the way we feel. Having missing teeth can impact your self-confidence. While full or partial dentures can mask the empty spaces in your mouth, they don’t give you the same functionality as natural teeth. If you only have one missing tooth, then a single tooth implant might be the optimal solution. Lovett Dental Piney Point offers dental implant services to Texas residents.
What Is a Single Tooth Implant?
A single tooth implant consists of a titanium screw inserted into your jaw with a crown placed on top. The structures fill the gaps where you have missing teeth and function just like a regular tooth. There’s no need to remove anything like you would with a denture. You can talk and eat with your single tooth impact without worrying about them shifting out of place.
The procedure starts with the dentist placing the titanium screw portion of the implant into a space. It typically takes about two to six months for your bone to bond with the screw, creating an anchor for your new artificial tooth. You wear a temporary replacement over the implant during that period.
Once you’re ready, the dentist leaves the temporary cap in place to serve as a foundation. They place your new crown over the cap. It takes a couple of weeks before your gum fully heals. An alternative to the two-step single-tooth implant placement is inserting an implant with a crown already in place. You can discuss dental implant options with your cosmetic dentist.
What Are the Advantages of a Single Tooth Implant?
The most significant advantage to having a single tooth implant is that it looks and operates like a natural tooth. You also don’t have to sacrifice any teeth near the empty space. For example, a bridge requires grinding down adjacent teeth to fit the support.
Dental implants help preserve the bone in the space where you have a missing tooth. Bridges and dentures can’t protect as well against that loss, so the bone might get reabsorbed. The gums can start receding around a bridge, harming the attractiveness of your smile. It’s also possible for the cement holding a bridge in place to start crumbling, leaving an opening for bacteria. Dental implants make for easier upkeep than bridges and dentures.
Who Benefits from a Single Tooth Implant?
Single tooth implants are suitable for individuals who only have one missing tooth. Some people aren’t comfortable with the look and feel of dentures and bridges. They can have more than one implant placed as needed to fill multiple spaces. Additional requirements for getting implants placed include:
- Healthy gums
- Enough bone in the jaw to support the implant
- Good oral hygiene habits
Individuals who may lack the necessary amount of bone in their jaw can talk with their dentist about bone grafting. That may be enough to add the right amount of bone to the jaw to make dental implants possible.
Another option is a subperiosteal implant. The dentist places a metal frame below your gum tissue with the posts already installed. Once it heals, they place implants on top of the posts pushing through your gumline.
Are Single Dental Implants Costly?
Single dental implants cost more than dentures and bridges. However, the increased functionality can make it worth the investment. Only an experienced periodontist or oral and maxillofacial surgeon should place your single tooth implant. If you have dental insurance, go over your policy benefits to determine how much of the cost it will cover.
Get Single Dental Implants at Lovett Dental Piney Point
Single dental implants fill in missing spaces in your mouth and give you the functionality of natural teeth. Lovett Dental Piney Point offers other cosmetic services that that can give your smile a boost, including:
Set up a consultation with Lovett Dental Piney Point today by calling 832-242-2030 or completing our online form.
