Fast And Easy Solutions To Bridge The Gap

Although dental implants have become a common practice for everything from stabilizing full dentures to anchoring partial bridges, many patients are still unaware of how this procedure can even address minor tooth loss issues. While dental implants do have a variety of applications, they are still one of the best ways to approach single tooth replacements for a complete and natural looking smile.

Whether the tooth loss is through accident or decay, a single missing tooth will frequently remain unaddressed for many people, especially if it is not located in the front of the mouth. This is because many people think that a small gap is only a cosmetic consideration, but this is not altogether true. Missing teeth can cause the rest of the dentition to shift, which may lead to pain and further tooth loss. Along with this, a missing tooth can:

• Impact speech
• Affect eating
• Contribute to bone deterioration
• Become a breeding ground for bacteria
• Cause trauma to the musculature of the jaw

These are just some of the reasons that even the replacement of a single tooth should be attended to at once.

Natural Anchoring

At Stony Brook Family Dentistry, we can evaluate the condition of the gums surrounding the lost tooth, and often complete an implant and temporary replacement procedure on the same day. This is even applicable when there is a remaining root and the socket needs to be drilled out before the rod can be implanted, but the results are an immediately more natural looking smile.

There are many reasons why dental implants are so applicable to single tooth replacement. The foremost of these is that the process is not reliant upon the health and stability of the surrounding teeth in order to have it done. In traditional bridge style replacements, the false tooth is anchored to the surrounding dentition, and lack of spacing can impede the natural appearance of the fit.

With dental implants, the process really consists of inserting a metal rod into the jawbone, and then the fabricated tooth is later attached to this. As the bone heals around the rod, it can actually correct such issues as bone deterioration, since this type of graft encourages more pronounced bone growth. The benefit is that a dental implant can also improve the stability of surrounding teeth.

Once the rod is in place, we give our patients a temporary fabricated tooth, which will help appearance, but also maintain the proper spacing of the dentition. After several weeks of healing, the permanent tooth replacement is applied. Since this is anchored into the jawbone, it offers a more natural feel, fit, and look than traditional bridge work.

Making The Proper Changes

If you have been putting off getting a tooth replacement taken care of, then we encourage you to contact Stony Brook Family Dentistry for a check-up and an evaluation. Since we can often do this as a same day procedure, you can leave our office feeling confident and well, knowing that you have taken the appropriate steps to ensure your ongoing oral health.