Missing Even One Tooth? Why You Should Consider a Dental Implant

Dental implant surgery can mean replacement of an entire arch of teeth, or even a full mouthful of teeth. But we’re often called upon to replace just 1-2 failing or lost teeth. Missing Lower Tooth

A single dental implant is clearly today’s best long-term tooth replacement solution. You end up with a beautiful restoration that looks, feels and functions just like a natural tooth. Other key important benefits:

  • Confidence – A restored smile is a confident smile—especially when the missing tooth is in your front “aesthetic” zone of the mouth that others immediately notice when you smile and speak.
  • Health – Your single-tooth dental implant will prevent adjacent teeth from shifting to fill the gap where a natural tooth is missing which can cause bite issues, affecting your diet. The dental implant also stimulates your jawbone to help preserve facial aesthetics.
  • Time saver – With a dental implant, unlike a removable bridge, you don’t need to remove and clean anything at the end of the day. You simply brush your replacement teeth along with the rest of your smile. Twice daily, please!

The Dental Implant Steps

You should not feel any discomfort during a single-tooth dental implant surgery. We’ll utilize a metal, cylindrical post (usually titanium) that will ultimately naturally fuse with your jawbone to create a sturdy artificial tooth root. This replacement tooth root is connected to a replacement crown via a small piece called an abutment which will screw into a replacement tooth – the crown that will match your other natural teeth. Sometimes a single dental implant can even be utilized to support two adjacent replacement teeth.

How Much Does an Implant Cost?

The cost of your single dental implant will depend on many factors, including if we need to first extract a failing tooth, or augment your jawbone to restore volume to support the implant. Age, having tooth loss for a long period or untreated gum disease are often factors that may increase cost. Some industry estimates say that nearly ½ of all areas will require some form of grafting prior to the placement of an implant to ensure support.

Long-Term Success

The complete healing process after a single tooth implant may take a few months to allow the implant time to properly fuse with your jawbone. Be patient – you’re investing in your future to help you chew better, look better and smile confidently for years to come.

Call one of our two offices today for a consultation to see how we can help restore your smile with single dental implant or multiple dental implants. You do not need a referral from another dental or medical practitioner, although referrals are always welcomed. We look forward to seeing you!