Dental implants are touted as the golden standard of tooth restoration because of all the options, they’re the only one that is inserted into your jaw to function like a natural tooth. Many patients who have lost all or most of their teeth, however, wonder how feasible it is to refurbish their mouth this way. Though the answer varies depending on your unique circumstances, understanding how your dentist approaches different situations can shed some light on what to expect. Keep reading to learn more!
Replacing a Single Tooth
If you’ve only lost one tooth, or have just a couple missing that are far apart in your mouth, the implant process will be simpler than those coping with multiple gaps in their smile. Your dentist will place a titanium support rod into your jaw where the tooth is missing. Then once it’s healed, they’ll cap it with a customized dental crown for a seamless appearance.
Unlike regular dentures and bridges, the pole underneath your restoration stimulates your jawbone every time you bite down or chew. This keeps it from deteriorating the way it normally would after tooth loss.
Replacing A Few Teeth
If you have several teeth adjacent to each other, then replacing them each individually may not be your best option. In these instances, your dentist will consider another option, like an implant-supported bridge. These are typically used to restore one to four missing pearly whites in a row and consist of several pontics (false teeth) that are attached to dental implants on either side to hold them securely in place.
With this technique, your dentist can replace multiple missing teeth with only two surgical implants.
Replacing Full Arches
If you’ve lost all your teeth, or all the upper and lower ones respectively, your dentist will need to find a way to replace the entire arch. Because they need to account for sinus cavity locations in the upper jaw and problematic nerves in your lower jaw, it’s not feasible to install an entire mouth full of implants- or even multiple implant-supported bridges.
In such cases, your dentist will likely recommend a solution like implant dentures. Essentially, they’ll rebuild your smile using dentures that fasten to four implants that they have strategically placed. Unlike normal dentures, these are intended to stay put so you won’t have to contend with removing and replacing them daily.
How many implants you need will depend on how many teeth you have lost, where they were located, and whether you have the jawbone density necessary to support them. Only your dentist can let you know for sure, so give them a call today!
About the Practice
Patients at South Shore Dental Care benefit from two dental experts who provide a wide range of services, including dental implants. They’re experts who can see you through all stages of their 4-step implant process from the initial consultation to abutment surgery and recovery, to then finally placing your dental crown. If you’d like to request an appointment, their friendly staff are happy to assist. You’re welcome to contact the office on the website or by calling (516) 798-3808.