Dental implants: losing a tooth

Have you lost a tooth?

Are you self-conscious about the gap in your smile?

When it comes to replacing a tooth a number of options are available.

There is even the option of not replacing the tooth. However, most dentists will advise you against this for health reasons.

Click here to read: Here’s the only way to have dentures Brisbane

Should you replace a missing tooth?

Aesthetic concerns aside, replacing a missing tooth is the best option for your health. The loss of a tooth affects your jaw and your remaining teeth. The effects of tooth loss also snowball. That is the loss of one tooth can, if left untreated, cause further tooth loss.

Tooth loss begets tooth loss

When you lose a tooth the jawbone which holds the tooth root in place begins to atrophy. The bone starts to shrink and dissolve as soon as the tooth comes loose, which can affect the teeth on either side of the gap.

Furthermore, once the bone atrophies it will not grow back, which is one of the many reasons why replacing the tooth is so important. By replacing a tooth with implant dentistry you provide support for both your jaw and your teeth.

A factor that compounds jawbone shrinkage is the lack of pressure caused by the lost tooth. When you chew you are also stimulating healthy jawbone growth.

Implant dentistry is the best option

A dental bridge will replace the crown of your tooth. But that is all dental bridge will do. A dental bridge will also require the healthy teeth on either side of the gap to be prepared for dental crown placement.

On the other hand, a dental implant-supported restoration provides stimulation for your jawbone and a strong and sturdy tooth root for the restoration. It also does not adversely affect the healthy teeth on either side of the gap. In fact, by replacing the missing tooth you are helping to keep the teeth either side of the gap from becoming crooked.

Whether you need a single dental crown, bridge or even dentures, implant-supported restorations are still the better option.

Implant dentistry offers the best long-term results

A dental implant is a titanium screw that is surgically placed at the site of the missing tooth root. Over a period of months (typically three or four) your jawbone integrates around the implant creating a strong and sturdy tooth root. Then the restoration, a dental crown, bridge or denture is attached to the implant giving you a whole tooth restoration.

Whereas non-implant supported restorations only replace the tooth above the gum line, implant dentistry looks after your whole mouth.

Give Brisbane Dental Implant Group a call

At our Coorparoo dental practice we have a team of highly-trained dental professionals to provide you with the most comprehensive implant dentistry treatment. With oral and maxillofacial surgeons, a prosthodontist, orthodontist and a dentist with a special interest in dental implants, Brisbane Dental Implant Group have all the dental professionals you need under one roof.

If you would like to know more about how we can help you, or to book an appointment at our Brisbane practice, please contact us.