Many people who are missing a single tooth opt for a fixed bridge; but a bridge may require the cutting down of healthy, adjacent teeth that may or may not need to be restored in the future. Then there is the additional cost of possibly having to replace the bridge once, twice or more over the course of a lifetime. Similarly, a removable partial denture may contribute to the loss of adjacent teeth. Studies show that, within five to seven years, there is a failure rate of up to 30% in teeth located next to a fixed bridge or removable partial denture.
One solution to the problems bridges can cause is opting for a single-tooth dental implant. A single prosthesis (crown) is used to replace one missing tooth – each prosthetic tooth attaches to its own implant. With a single-tooth implant, there is no bridge to cause friction between the denture and your own teeth, and the implant looks and feels more natural.
As with multiple-tooth implants, there are some cases in which Dr. Zaritsky is able to place single-stage, implants. These implants do not require a second procedure to uncover them. There are even specific situations where the implants can be placed at the same time as a tooth extraction – further minimizing the number of surgical procedures. Advances in dental implant technology have made it possible, in select cases, to extract your tooth and place an implant with crowns on the same day. This procedure, called “immediate loading,” greatly speeds up the dental implant process.
Once the implants are in place, they will serve you well for many years if you take care of them and keep your mouth healthy. They are your second chance at having a permanent tooth. This means taking the time for good oral hygiene (brushing and flossing) and keeping regular appointments with your dental specialists is essential as good oral health is to maintaining your natural teeth.
Whether you are a young, middle-aged or older adult; whether you need to replace one tooth, several teeth, or all your teeth, there is a dental implant solution for you. With the exception of growing children, dental implants are the solution of choice for people of all ages. If you are considering implants, your mouth must be examined thoroughly and your medical and dental history reviewed. If your mouth is not ideal for implants, ways of improving outcome, such as bone grafting, may be recommended.