What Is Single Tooth Implant?
When you have a single missing tooth, you may not think it’s a big deal, especially if the missing tooth is in the back of your mouth. But your other teeth may move to fill in the space left by the missing tooth, which can mess up your bite.
As a result, you may not be able to chew or speak as effectively, and tooth movement can also lead to headaches or temporomandibular joint dysfunction. Call Stamford dentistry practice to see if you qualify for a permanent, artificial replacement tooth.
But the implant has to be placed correctly to last a lifetime. In Stamford, CT, the dentists at Stamford Dental Arts have the experience and technology to prepare and place your single tooth implant properly. The procedure requires a careful evaluation to make sure you have enough bone to support the implant. The procedure itself can be painless, thanks to sedation dentistry.
Causes and Consequences of a Missing Tooth
Single tooth loss can happen from an accident, such as trauma from a fall, or from illness, such as gum disease. You may need to have a damaged tooth pulled. Occasionally, a missing tooth is due to a genetic condition. While you may be tempted to not fill the space the tooth occupied, especially if it’s out of sight at the back of your mouth, a missing tooth can have costly, long-term repercussions.
When you have a missing tooth, it creates a cavalcade of consequences. Not all may affect you, but the longer you go with that missing tooth, the more likely you’ll need a procedure to fix a related problem, such as:
- Loss of bone. Your tooth and tooth root stimulate your jaw to continue producing healthy bone tissue to replace bone cells that die and are sloughed off. Without the root to send those signals, your upper or lower jaw gradually loses bone density.
- Tooth shift. Your teeth naturally gravitate to fill in the space left by your missing tooth, resulting in an irregular bite. Without the missing tooth taking up that space, your remaining teeth shift. If they move far enough, it compromises your bite, causing uneven wear and tear. You may develop headaches, muscle soreness, or sensitivity. You may also require TMJ treatment in Stamford.
- Difficulty chewing and swallowing. A missing tooth may force you to shift your food to other teeth to chew it properly. Concentrating harder foods in one area results in excessive wear on those teeth. If you end up needing dental crowns, you’re looking at a larger dental bill.
- Speech concerns. Depending on the location of the missing tooth, certain words may be harder to pronounce. A missing tooth may cause you to slur your words.
- Facial shape. Too many missing teeth cause your face to appear shrunken as your cheeks collapse into space previously occupied by your teeth. The result is a much older appearance.
How Do You Get a Tooth Implant?
To place a single tooth dental implant into your mouth, your local Stamford dentist, Ali Modiri, DDS, and Marjan Moghadam, DDS follows a series of steps that include:
- Examining your mouth, jaw, and remaining teeth to determine exactly what kind of implant you need
- Removing any residual tooth or root material
- Assessing the condition of your gums and jawbone to decide if you need graft surgery
- inserting a small, titanium post into your bone at the site of your previous tooth root. Your bone grows around the post in about three months. While you heal, you get a temporary crown.
- Placing an abutment on top of the titanium post to act as a bridge between the root and the crown
- Securing a customized crown permanently on the abutment. The crown is color-matched to your other teeth
Since you no longer have any nerves in a tooth root, you experience little or no pain during the process. Minor gum irritation may occur, but salty or medicated rinses and over-the-counter pain relievers control this discomfort.
The most professional, friendly and welcoming office there is. They have a great team. Laura, the receptionist, makes you feel welcome, while Carol, the assistant, is very friendly and helps you with anything you need. Dr. Modiri and Dr. Moghadam are excellent at what they do and help you understand what’s going on every step of the way. I’d highly recommend this office 🙂
Benefits of Single Tooth Implants
Single tooth implants have enjoyed widespread success and patient satisfaction. Advantages of this technique include:
- Implants are remarkably natural in how they function. They’re complete tooth replacements.
- The post fuses with the bone and becomes a part of your tooth structure. You can eat, drink, brush and floss just as you would with a natural tooth.
- You enjoy no limitations on food or drink. Eat the foods you love without concern.
- Implants are customized to your exact smile and dental shape, resulting in the most natural appearance.
- Implants restore a more youthful appearance to your whole face.
- With proper care, your single tooth implant often lasts a lifetime.
Your best-rated dental specialist Ali Modiri, DDS, and Marjan Moghadam, DDS discusses your overall health and medical concerns to make sure your body accepts the implant post and heals correctly. Contact Stamford Dental Arts to talk to your nearby dentist about whether you are a good candidate for a single tooth implant.
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