Missing teeth can significantly disrupt your life. You might feel self-conscious about gaps in your smile, struggle with your usual oral functions, and have a higher risk of further dental problems. You can talk to your dentist to form a personalized plan to replace these missing teeth and improve your oral health.
Dental implants offer the most comprehensive benefits when it comes to dental restoration. And a dentist can provide a number of options so that you can receive treatment that suits your specific oral health needs. Read on to discover three types of dental implants that can help you restore your smile in the wake of tooth loss.
Single Dental Implant
A single dental implant will replace one missing tooth, though dental patients can benefit from more than one of these fixtures if needed to fully restore their smiles. It features a titanium post anchor surgically inserted into the jaw by a dentist. As it heals, it fuses with the bone in the jaw. This allows it to provide optimal support for a prosthetic tooth in the form of a dental crown.
Though the process will take three or more appointments over the course of several months, you can see long-lasting enhancement and restoration in your smile. A dental implant will remain in the mouth for twenty years or longer. So you will not have to worry about extra maintenance or needing replacements at this time. This serves as an advantage over removable fixtures.
Implant-Secured Dental Bridge
For patients seeking the replacement of three or more missing teeth in a row, a dentist might recommend an implant-secured dental bridge. This implant uses two anchors in the jaw: one to support each end of the bridge prosthetic. Dentists employ a similar process to place the device as with the single implant.
With the implant in place, you can perform oral functions without issue once again. You can speak and eat without worrying about your device slipping out of place at an inopportune moment. And you can feel proud of the way your smile appears without gaps.
All-on-Four Dental Implant
An All-on-Four dental implant will replace an entire arch of missing teeth. You can receive it on the top, bottom, or both arches if necessary. As its name implies, it secures the arch of prosthetic teeth using four anchors, which involve the same placement process as other implants.
With a dental implant, you can protect your jawbone health. When you lose a tooth, your jaw stops receiving stimulation from the tooth root. This can result in degeneration of the bone there. The anchor of the implant serves as a replacement for the absent tooth root. So with this, you can preserve your dental and facial structure.
Removable dentures only replace teeth above the gumline and will not offer this benefit. Schedule an appointment with your dentist to learn if you qualify for implant dentistry tooth replacement. The dentist will examine your gums and jaw to ensure you have enough structure to support this appliance.