If you’re like the vast majority of Americans, you’ll lose at least one tooth in your lifetime. So what do you do when you have missing teeth? You could get a dental bridge or partial dentures, but they aren’t very natural-looking or long-lasting. Dental implants, on the other hand, are permanent, secure and look and function like your natural teeth.
What is Implant Dentistry?
According to the American Association of Periodontology (AAP), “a dental implant is an artificial tooth root that is placed into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge. Dental implants may be an option for people who have lost a tooth or teeth due to periodontal disease, an injury, or some other reason.”
Implant dentistry is the area of dentistry that specializes in these dental implants.
Types of Implant Dentistry
Traditional dental implants are placed directly into your jawbone and eventually fuse to it over time, thus strengthening it. Dental implant alternatives usually sit on the jawbone instead, causing teeth to shift and your face to collapse, even if you just have one missing tooth.
Fortunately, implant dentistry can address everything from one missing tooth to missing all your teeth. Here is a breakdown of each type:
• One tooth – The simplest form of implant dentistry, this replaces one tooth via a dental implant (called an abutment) and a custom-made, natural-looking crown.
• Multiple teeth – If you have multiple missing teeth that are next to each other, you’ll usually receive a fixed bridge that’s supported with two dental implants. This ensures a proper fit while maintaining jaw stimulation.
• All teeth – There are multiple implant options available for people missing all of their teeth. You can get a form of an extended bridge, multiple implants and bridges or an innovative procedure like All-on-4, which replaces all of your teeth using four secure dental implants.
Even if you don’t think your mouth isn’t healthy enough or there isn’t enough bone to support dental implants, Dr. Staples has solutions for you.
If you’d like to know more about implant dentistry, schedule a complimentary consultation with us today.
