Losing a tooth can have a significant impact on your life, even if the tooth is located at the back of your mouth, out of sight when you smile. Many people mistakenly believe that if the missing tooth cannot be seen, it is not a big deal and does not need to be replaced. The truth, however, is that even one missing tooth can impact every aspect of your life.
Losing a tooth affects how you eat as well as your speech. It also affects the health of your jawbone, leading to bone loss. At , we can replace a missing tooth with a single tooth implant.
What Happens When You Lose a Tooth?
One of the most obvious effects of tooth loss is what happens to your smile. However, if you lose a tooth near the back of your mouth, it will not have this effect, at least not immediately. There are several other issues that can happen as a result of tooth loss including:
• | Difficulty biting and chewing. This can affect your digestion and impact your nutrition. |
• | Difficulty speaking properly. Tooth loss can often lead to a lisp. |
• | Food can get trapped in the empty space, increasing your risk for cavities and gum disease. |
• | An increased risk for tooth damage. |
• | Bone loss in your jaw. This causes the bone to change shape, which can then impact the alignment of your adjacent teeth. This can lead to issues such as uneven tooth wear, bruxism, and TMJ disorder. |
What is a Dental Implant?
Dental implants are a modern solution for tooth loss. A single tooth implant is a type of dental implant used to replace an individual tooth. An implant consists of a small titanium post that is surgically placed into your jawbone. As you heal, your bone fuses to this post, stabilizing it within your jaw.
This process, called osseointegration, turns the post into a strong replacement root that is then used to provide secure support for your replacement tooth, which is a ceramic crown. This crown restores the functions of your missing tooth. It also looks exactly like the rest of your natural teeth, which enables it to perfectly restore the quality of your smile.
Getting Your Single Tooth Implant
Getting a single tooth implant requires a surgical procedure. The process is performed under local anesthesia and sedation, keeping you comfortable and relaxed. We begin with a small incision in your gums. Next, a small hole is drilled into your jawbone, and the implant post is placed directly inside. Your gums are sutured closed around the post, leaving a small portion exposed above the tissue. Finally, a temporary tooth is placed and is used until you have fully healed.
Recovery after a single tooth implant can take several weeks. During this time, follow up appointments allow us to monitor your healing. Once you have fully healed, we take impressions of your mouth, which are used to design and fabricate your replacement tooth. After it is complete, the tooth is secured onto the implant post with a small screw.
Benefits of a Single Tooth Implant
A single tooth implant provides several benefits, including:
• | Restoring your abilities to bite and chew |
• | Improving digestion and nutrition |
• | Restoring your speech |
• | Improved oral health |
• | Providing a completely natural appearance. The ceramic crown looks exactly like the rest of your natural teeth. |
• | There is no need to prepare adjacent teeth |
• | Restoring stimulation to your jawbone. The post functions as a replacement tooth root. By restoring stimulation, bone loss is stopped and prevented. This keeps your jawbone strong and healthy. |
With a single tooth implant, we can help to restore all of the functions of your missing tooth and preserve the health of your jawbone and your mouth. For more information, and to find out if a dental implant is right for you, call Treasure Valley Oral & Facial Surgery today at (208) 343-0909.