When there’s empty space in your smile, a dental implant is often the best solution; in addition to letting you talk and eat normally again, it’ll keep your jawbone healthy and strong, something traditional dentures and other dental restorations can’t do. But what if there’s more than one tooth missing? Are dental implants in Lawrenceville still an option? The answer is yes; in fact, depending on how many pearly whites need to be replaced, there are actually a few different ways implants can be used!
What If I’m Missing a Few Teeth in Different Places?
If you have two or three missing teeth in different locations in your mouth, each one can be replaced by an individual implant. After your jawbone has been prepared, the metal posts will be surgically placed. They’ll need a few months afterwards to fuse with the bone in a process called osseointegration; once that’s complete, you’ll get an abutment and a crown for each implant post. The crowns will be colored and shaped so that they look as natural as possible in your mouth.
What If I’m Missing a Few Teeth in a Row?
Some patients end up losing multiple teeth in a row. When that happens, the best kind of restoration is usually a dental bridge supported by two dental implants on either side.
Traditional bridges are supported by adjacent teeth that have had small amounts of enamel removed. Unfortunately, this process can end up weakening the teeth and make it more likely that they’ll suffer from damage or decay, leading to more oral health problems. By using implants to support the bridge instead, you can repair your smile while leaving remaining teeth alone.
What If I’m Missing Most or All of My Teeth?
Of course, it’s not uncommon for older patients to be missing an entire row of teeth, also called an arch. Dentures are usually recommended in these situations, but because they do nothing to prevent bone loss by themselves, they’ll become ill-fitting over time as the shape of your mouth changes. As a result, they’ll feel very uncomfortable in your mouth, and they may slip while chewing or speaking.
A denture retained by four to eight implants is much more secure in the mouth. Not only will they not slip at embarrassing times, but the improved bite power will let you enjoy all of your favorite meals. Furthermore, because you don’t have to worry about deterioration in your jawbone, your dentures will typically last longer than they normally would before you need to get a replacement.
No matter how many teeth are missing or what sort of restoration you need to replace them, the first thing to do when there’s open space in your mouth is to talk with your dentist about your options. Take the initiative in finding out if dental implants are right for you!
About the Author
Dr. Bruce E. Carter has been helping patients restore and protect their smiles for well over 30 years. He’s had over 1600 hours of advanced training since graduating from dental school. This include training in implant dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and full/partial dentures (including those retained by implants). To schedule an appointment at his practice, Transforming Smiles, visit his website or call (770) 995-7616.