Millions of people suffer from tooth loss. If you do not seek help from your dentist urgently, lost adult permanent teeth will not grow back. And missing teeth can put you at risk of other oral health complications.
Fortunately, your dentist can evaluate your smile to find a tooth replacement solution that will suit your specific goals and needs. You can receive the most comprehensive restorative benefits from dental implants.
Whether you lost one, several, or an entire arch of teeth, your dentist can determine an implant that will help your specific smile. Read on to discover three types of dental implants that your dentist can provide for you to restore your smile after tooth loss.
Single Dental Implant
If you want to replace one missing tooth in your smile, your dentist might recommend a single dental implant. You can receive more than one of this type of dental implant in your mouth for full dental restoration if needed.
The device features a titanium post anchor which a dentist surgically inserts into the jawbone. As this heals, the anchor fuses with the bone to create a solid, permanent foundation that will support the dental prosthetic.
When you recover from the procedure, which can take a few months, you return to the dentist to receive the prosthetic tooth, a dental crown. The custom prosthetic will look both gorgeous and natural in your smile.
Plus, its durable material and secure hold via an abutment on the anchor ensure it will last for twenty years or longer. You can fill gaps in your smile and feel proud of how it appears again in the wake of tooth loss with this treatment.
Implant-Supported Dental Bridge
An implant-supported dental bridge is a type of implant that can replace three or more teeth in a row within your smile. The device uses two anchors within the jaw: one to support each end of the bridge prosthetic.
A traditional dental bridge will also be fixed within the mouth. But an implant will give you a more durable and reliable fit that will grant you even more confidence in your oral capabilities. Eat and speak normally again without worry thanks to implant dentistry.
All-on-Four Dental Implant
The All-on-Four dental implant replaces an entire arch of missing teeth. You can receive this implant on the top or bottom arch of the mouth or both if necessary to restore your dental health. As its name suggests, the implant relies on four anchors to sustain an arch of prosthetic teeth.
Removable dentures can replace an arch of lost teeth too, but they cannot offer as many restorative benefits. They replace teeth only above the gumline, while implants can replace the lost tooth roots below the gums as well.
This has the added advantage of preserving jawbone that might otherwise deteriorate after tooth loss. The patient must have enough healthy bone in the jaw remaining to sustain the fusion of the anchor to the bone. A dentist will evaluate your dental structure to ensure you qualify for this tooth replacement solution.