If you lose one or more teeth, you might experience significant detrimental effects on your oral function. You might also lose confidence in the appearance of your smile due to gaps where teeth once were. Your oral health will continue to decline, however, if you do not seek tooth replacement treatment from your dentist.
You can find comprehensive and effective restorative benefits through implant dentistry. A dentist can also provide different types of implants that will suit your unique dental needs. Read on to learn about three kinds of dental implants that your dentist can give you to replace your missing teeth.
Which Dental Implant Will Best Restore My Smile?
Single Dental Implant
If you need to replace one missing tooth, your dentist may recommend a single dental implant. Your dentist can also give you more than one of these implants if needed to fully restore your smile. This dental fixture uses a titanium post as an anchor which a dentist will place into the jaw during oral surgery.
The anchor fuses to the jawbone as it heals to create ideal support for a prosthetic tooth. After this recovery period, which may last a few months, the dentist secures a crown to an abutment above the gumline that attaches to this anchor to complete the process.
You can ensure the custom dental prosthetics will look gorgeous and natural in your smile. Then you can feel a boost of self-esteem by filling gaps in your smile and feeling proud of the way that your teeth look once again.
Implant-Supported Dental Bridge
Patients seeking a replacement for three or more missing teeth in a row may benefit from an implant-supported dental bridge. This implant employs two anchors that will support each end of a bridge prosthetic. The surgery, recovery, and prosthetic placement process is very similar to that of a single dental implant.
By replacing missing teeth with a dental implant, you can restore oral capabilities. You can chew and speak as you normally would without worrying that your device may slip out of place at an inopportune moment. The implant can last for twenty or more years with proper care and maintenance.
All-on-Four Dental Implant
An All-on-Four dental implant will replace an entire arch of missing teeth. Patients may receive this implant on the top or bottom arch or both if needed. As its name implies, the implant uses four anchors to support this arch of prosthetic teeth.
Unlike removable dentures, dental implants will help prevent bone loss in the jaw that may occur after losing a tooth. The anchor will replace an absent tooth root, stimulating the jaw to keep it healthy.
Therefore, you can maximize restorative benefits by choosing fixed tooth replacement with implant dentistry. Consult with your dentist to learn if your jaw is healthy enough to support a dental implant. They can work with your unique smile to find a type of implant that will address your goals.