Why place an implant?

Tooth extraction is quite common, due to poor dental health and gum disease. Leaving the missing tooth space empty may not sound too serious but the consequences of not filling in the space from the missing tooth can include: the teeth adjacent to your missing tooth tipping in an attempt to fill the gap. The loss of your missing tooth’s root can cause your jawbone to shrink making your face appear prematurely older. And should the missing tooth be in the front of your mouth your self confidence will surely be affected. Also, this prosthetic can never decay or get a cavity.

What are my options to replace a single missing tooth?

If you’ve lost a tooth or you need to have a tooth pulled, your dentist will most probably offer you three different options to replace it. When there is sufficient bone and gum in the area of the missing tooth, an implant Is most likely the ideal solution. It will result in a new tooth that will resemble your lost tooth both in terms of function and aesthetics.

Your second option would be a fixed bridge. However this would require preparing both teeth adjacent to the missing tooth so that they may serve aspillars to the bridge. The final bridge is cemented over these two adjacent teeth which results in a three unit bridge (each supporting tooth plus the missing tooth) . However, since all the teeth are now splinted together you won’t be able to floss either side of your new replacement tooth.

Your third option is a partial denture. Unlike the first two options, a partial is removable. This is the least expensive solution but the most cumbersome and it will not restore the original chewing ability of the lost tooth.

What if I am missing multiple teeth?

When many teeth are missing, individual Implants corresponding to each individually missing tooth can sometimes be used. However, in most cases it is often preferable to use fewer, strategically placed, implants that will serve as abutments to an implant supported bridge.

For example the loss of 2 teeth that are side by will result in the loss of their interdental papilla. This is the triangular part of the gums found in the area between two adjacent teeth.

Attempting to replace both teeth with adjacent implants would result in what we dentists call “black triangles” (unsightly dark voids between the teeth).

A better solution would be to place one implant at each extremity of the toothless space and make an implant supported bridge. Implants would therefore serve as abutments for the bridge and the remaining missing teeth would be replaced with pontics ( false teeth without an underlying implant)

The advantage in this case would be that the pontics can be placed over to gums in a way that masks the loss of the interdental papilla and can be made to appear as though they are natural teeth, protruding from the gums.

Can I replace my denture with implants?

If you are missing all of your teeth in one or both jaws, dental implants can be used to dramatically improve the efficiency of your chewing. Depending on your budget,and the amount of bone you have for the placement of the implants, you can choose either fixed or removable implant supported dentures.

In the case of a removable implant supported dentures, implants are placed that will serve as anchorage units to securely attach a denture into place. The denture can still be removed but once it is snapped over the implants it becomes very stable and difficult to dislodge.

In certain cases mini implants may be alternatively be used and are quite economical. Ask your dentist if you are a candidate for mini implants.

A fixed denture supported by implants is made of a cast or milled prosthetic that is screwed into a number of implants. This type of denture cannot be removed. If you are a good candidate this solution will rid you of removable dentures all-together.

Why do I need a Crown if I get an implant to replace a single tooth?

It’s important to realize that when we speak of getting an implant to replace a missing tooth we’re actually talking of not one but three prosthetic devices that must be used to replace the missing tooth: an implant, a post and a crown.

The IMPLANT serves as the anchor to hold the post and the crown. Consider it to be a false root which is placed in the bone and is therefore not visible in the mouth. The POST is screwed into the implantand creates a protruding pillar that will serve to support and retain the crown..The CROWN is a tooth shaped cap that is visible in the mouth and is cemented or screwed over the post.

How much does an implant cost?

Our fees can be found HERE.

When considering the cost of dental implants it really depends upon what you’re looking to achieve. Is your goal to replace a singletooth ,multiple missing teeth or all of your teeth?

And in the case of a denture, do you want the final result to be fixed or removable?

Do you have sufficient bone or will bone grafts be required?

Following a consultation at Le Dentisteto assess your clinical condition we will be able to recommend treatment options for you and give you an estimate for the cost of the entire treatment before we start anything.

How long does an implant last?

An implant is considered to be the longest lasting dental prosthetic. Once it is integrated (fused to the bone) it can last a lifetime. However, just as for natural teeth, it requires maintenance and can also be subject to.periodontal disease (gum disease).

This means that proper oral hygiene and regular dental check ups are a necessity.

What is a mini-implant?

A mini implant is an implant that has a diameter of less than 3 mm.

Unlike a conventional implant, that requires that a post be screwed into the implant, amini- implant is comprised of both implant and post in one single piece. Their use is usually limited to help secure a removable denture into place.Because of their smaller size, less bone is required for their placement. Also, since minis are easier to place and don’t require an additional postthey are substantially less expensive than conventional implants.

For all these reasons, they are an excellent choice for a denture wearer looking to add retention and stability to their ill fitting or loose dentures.