Many people experience the loss of a single tooth. For some, the loss might occur as the result of an accident; while for others, a dental extraction might have been necessary.
However, while many people may believe the loss of a tooth has no great bearing on the overall health of their teeth, in reality, this is not the case and a single missing tooth can have far-reaching detrimental effects. To combat the effects of a single tooth loss, dental implants have become a popular choice of tooth restoration.
A set of teeth typically work together as a team, offering strength and support to one another in functions such as biting, chewing and even word and sound formation. So naturally, if one tooth is removed, all are affected. Teeth can shift position, altering the biting and chewing pattern, creating pressure and leading to issues such as TMJ.
Teeth can shift position, altering the biting and chewing pattern, creating pressure and leading to issues such as TMJ.
What’s more, the symbiotic relationship between the now-missing tooth and the gum and jawbone is broken. The stimulus provided by the symbiosis is lost, which can lead to gum tissue recession and loss of bone mass in the affected area. This recession can spread across the gum line and jaw bone, weakening other teeth and leading to further loss.
An implant dentist can use dental implants to address the issue of a missing tooth by using a prosthetic tooth to replace the one that has been lost. A small titanium support is inserted into the area of the missing tooth and allowed to bond onto the jaw bone. This binding of the two materials is known as osseointegration, and provides strength and support to the dental implant, and also helps to recreate the symbiotic relationship between the tooth, gum tissue and jawbone.
Once the pillar has been placed and the healing process is complete, the implant dentist places a shaped dental crown onto the pillar to complete the implant treatment. The dental crown provides a natural appearance to the treatment, while offering all the benefits of a normal tooth.
The dental implant helps to maintain bite strength, aid speech and word pronunciation and helps to keep gums stimulated, helping to promote healthy gums and jaw bone.
After-care is easy too, dental implants can be cared for normally as part of regular dental care and require no special cleaning aids or solutions.
If you have suffered from single tooth loss and would like to consult with our dental team about implant treatment, contact The Dental Place, serving Arlington TX and surrounding areas, today to schedule a consultation.