Dental Implant Procedure It can be very hard to lose a tooth for a number of reasons. Obviously it can be more difficult to chew your favorite foods with a tooth missing but there is a plethora of unforeseen consequences that can follow the loss of a tooth.The Consequences of Losing a ToothMany people choose to have problem teeth removed because they view it as the cheapest option at the time, which can technically be true. Many times, what they do not realize is that the loss of a tooth can be followed by a cascade of problems that can lead to some very expensive fixes. If you lose a tooth and do not replace it the teeth on either side of the lost tooth will start to move into the empty space created by it. Further, the tooth on the opposing jaw that would normally chew against the lost tooth with start to fall down (or move up) into the gap that the tooth once filled. Once the teeth surrounding the gap begin to move, the teeth behind them are suddenly able to move. This ripple effect can greatly change the way your bite aligns and the cost to fix these issues can be significant. Bone LossAnother factor to consider when you lose a tooth is the potential deterioration of the bone structure in the jaw. Your teeth have a direct impact on your jaw's health. They are constantly sending feedback and stimulation to your jawbone in the form of chewing and general use of your mouth. This constant feedback from teeth is important for your jaw to maintain its structure and health and without it your jawbone suffers. What will end up happening to your jaw in the place that you lose your tooth is it will deteriorate over time. Everyone is different and the loss of a tooth will take longer to have a significant impact on some people than it might on others. The end result, after enough time will always be the loss of bone. When you lose bone in your jaw not only can your bite change, but the appearance of your face can change too. It is important to note that a dental implant needs a certain amount of bone structure present to be able to be placed in the mouth successfully. If you have suffered a significant amount of bone loss it may be necessary for you to have a bone graft done in order for your mouth to accept an implant. Fortunately, when a bone graft is needed we are sometimes able to complete both the grafting procedure and the implant procedure at the same time. We will let you know if such an option is available to you, as doing both procedures at once can cut down on the overall recovery time of the surgery.  What are dental implants?Fortunately, there is a fantastic solution to tooth loss - dental implants. Dental implants consist of three separate pieces: a titanium post, an abutment, and a crown. The titanium post is place into the bone where the tooth's root would normally sit. Titanium possesses the unique and valuable trait of being able to naturally fuse with bone. Once the post is placed an abutment is added, the abutment is simply a piece meant to join the post to the crown. The crown is then attached to the abutment. The crown's color will match that of the surrounding teeth and will be virtually indistinguishable from them. Dental Implant AdvantagesDental implants can help to preserve the form, function, and the aesthetic of your mouth in a big way. An implant will act almost exactly as your real tooth would. It will hold the surrounding teeth in place, ensuring that your teeth won't drift and your bite won't change. Further, it will continue to stimulate the bone in the jaw, preventing bone loss which will safeguard against your facial structure changing. All this, plus you will have all the chewing function of a normal tooth! Here at the Arizona Institute for Periodontics & Dental Implants we have a several options available for dental implants. Our professional team has performed these procedures thousands of times and are the best in the area at meeting and exceeding your expectations for high quality dental treatment. We are excited to help Please, give us a call today at (623) 584-0664 to schedule your no obligation consultation to find out more about how dental implants can improve your smile! |
Leslie I. Davis, BDS, DDS, PC 13802 W Camino del Sol Suite 103 Sun City West, AZ 85375-4486 Phone: (623) 584-0664 Fax: (623) 584-1728 Hours:
Monday: 7am-3pm Tuesday: 7am-3pm Wednesday: 7am-3pm Thursday: 7am-3pm Friday: Closed Initial Consultations |
