Your Dental Implant Options

Tooth loss impacts millions of adults in the United States. This dental condition can leave you with difficulties performing oral functions, high risks of further dental complications, and a blow to your self-esteem when it comes to your smile’s appearance. Dental implants, a fixed tooth replacement treatment, can resolve all of these issues.

Whether you lost one, several, or an entire arch of teeth, your dentist can find an implant that will suit your unique dental needs. Read on to learn about three dental implant options that your dentist can provide you to replace your missing teeth.

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Types of Dental Implants

Single Dental Implants

If you lose one tooth and seek a replacement, a dentist might recommend a single dental implant. This fixture uses a titanium post anchor which a dentist surgically places into the jaw. It fuses with the bone there to create a solid foundation that will ultimately support a prosthetic tooth, in this case, a crown, above the gumline.

This device replaces one missing tooth, but you can receive more than one of these types of implants if needed to fully restore your smile. It will fill gaps in your smile with custom-fitting, natural-looking prosthetics that you can feel proud of.

The crowns will resist staining as well for long-lasting smile enhancement. And they will endure for decades without the need for excess maintenance that a removable denture will require.

Implant-Supported Dental Bridges

Dental patients who lost three or more teeth in a row can benefit from an implant-supported dental bridge. This device features two anchors in the jaw—one for each end of a bridge prosthetic.

The procedures can take several months to complete before you see the final results. But once in place, a dental implant can remain and restore your smile for twenty years or longer.

You can complete oral functions like eating and speaking with ease again and without worrying about your oral appliance slipping out of place at an inopportune moment. The device will fit comfortably in your smile as well. If you do feel severe pain, this is abnormal, and you should tell your dentist about the symptom right away.

All-on-Four Dental Implants

An All-on-Four dental implant is a type of oral appliance that can replace an entire arch of missing teeth. As its name implies, the prosthetic teeth will rely on four surgically inserted anchors to support the fixture. You can receive this on the top arch, bottom arch, or both if necessary.

While you can also use full removable dentures to replace an entire arch of teeth, you will notice more comprehensive benefits from dental implants. Removable options will replace teeth only above the gumline. But implants feature anchors that serve as substitutes for missing tooth roots too.

Then you can see the preservation of the jawbone with implants, which will prevent the appearance of facial sagging. Discover if implant dentistry will accomplish your dental goals by scheduling a consultation with your dentist today.