Permanent Teeth

Teeth Implants: The Permanent Solution to a Lost Tooth

Whether it's due to accident or decay, tooth loss can be a pretty traumatic event. But it's not irreplaceable. If you lose a tooth, you might be surprised at the options modern dentistry can offer to replace that missing tooth.

If it's a sudden, accidental injury and you lose the entire tooth, roots and all, it may even be possible to replace the tooth in its socket. But time is of the essence, the tooth replacement must occur within an hour of the accident.

A more realistic alternative is a tooth implant. Teeth implants are the next best thing to having natural teeth restored to your mouth. That's because, instead of being a removable device inside the mouth, like dentures, implants are permanently anchored into the jaw itself.

The key to a successful dental implant procedure is called osseointegration, or the meshing together of implant and bone. Good candidates for dental implants need jawbone ridges that are in good shape and healthy oral tissues. Then, when the implant device is inserted, a chemical and mechanical bond is formed. The jawbone actually grows into the dental implant.

The thing to remember is... if you lose a tooth, it's not the end of the world. Tooth implants are only one of your options. Regardless of the cause of your tooth loss, there's something you can do to recreate a healthy, natural-looking smile. Contact your dentist today to get more tooth implant information.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

Replacement Of Missing Teeth With Implant Dentistry

In implant dentistry, devices are used to replace missing teeth. They are made of titanium, an inert metal that bonds with the bone, forming a very tight union called osseointegration. The modern system of dental implants, the endosseous system, is extremely successful and has a 90% to 95% success rate.

The dental implant itself replaces the root of the tooth. It is usually in the shape of a screw or a cylinder. The implant connects to a component (the abutment) that joins the implant to the replacement tooth (the crown).

Dental implants are ideal replacements for teeth. When healthy teeth have to be prepared for crowns or bridges, healthy tooth structure needs to be removed. But if only one tooth is missing, the dental implant can simply replace it without having to sacrifice the adjacent teeth.

Dental implants can also be used to replace many missing teeth. Multiple teeth can be replaced with implant dentistry and can avoid the need for a removable denture. Removable dentures can be hard to get used to. They may have clasps that can be unsightly and put additional stress on the existing teeth. Full dentures may be difficult to wear and may interfere with eating and speaking. People who wear dentures for a long time may have additional loss of the bone that supports the denture. This bone loss can be accelerated by osteoporosis, and eventually dentures may be very difficult to wear if not impossible. Poor-fitting dentures can interfere with proper nutrition and quality of life.

Generally, one implant is needed to replace each missing tooth. In some situations, several implants need to be joined together into a bridge. This adds greater strength to the implant restoration. If there is not enough bone available to replace a whole set of teeth, implants may be used as anchors for dentures. When dentures are supported by implants they can be much more stable and the implants help prevent the deterioration of the bone that supports the denture.

The endosseous system of implant dentistry has been used for over 30 years. They can look and feel like natural teeth, adding comfort and improving the smile of people of all ages.

By Laura Minsk, DMD

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.