Teeth Replacement with Dental Implants
Dallas Metro Area
 It’s easy to ignore a missing tooth, especially when it is not visible when you smile. However, Your teeth play many important roles in the functions, health, and aesthetics of your mouth. When you lose several teeth, all of these are significantly impacted, as is your quality of life. At Bite Lock, we offer many options for replacing missing teeth, including single and multiple teeth implants.
Single Missing Tooth Replacement
Traditionally, the way to replace one tooth has been with a dental bridge. Today, you have options. At Bite Lock, we can replace your one missing tooth with a dental implant.
Effects of Tooth Loss
There are several things that happen when you lose even just one tooth:
| • |
Your ability to bite and chew your food is greatly affected. Chewing is the first step in the digestive process. When food is not properly broken down before being swallowed, your body has a more difficult time absorbing the nutrients.
|
| • |
Depending upon the location, speaking becomes a challenge as it becomes more difficult to form certain words or sounds.
|
| • |
Food can get stuck in the gap, increasing your risk of developing gum disease.
|
| • |
Depending upon where their missing tooth is, your smile may be dulled.
|
| • |
Your jawbone begins to weaken. It changes its shape, which can then lead to your adjacent teeth shifting into the gap, causing uneven tooth wear, bruxism and jaw pain. |
Traditional Single Tooth Replacement
In the past, a single missing tooth was replaced with a dental bridge. A bridge, typically made out of ceramic, is a prosthesis that bridges the gap left behind by your missing tooth. It consists of your replacement tooth and two dental crowns. The replacement tooth is set between the two crowns, which anchor on to the adjacent healthy teeth, called “abutment” teeth. These teeth require preparation, or the removal of some of the enamel, which helps ensure that the bridge fits naturally into place. Bridges are designed and fabricated based on impressions of your mouth and affixed in place with a special dental cement.
Single Tooth Dental Implants
Single tooth implants are a type of dental implant. Dental implants are titanium rods, which are surgically inserted into your jawbone. The implants then act a support for your replacement teeth. A single tooth implant uses a single titanium rod and one dental crown to take the place of your missing tooth.
To place your implant, a surgical procedure is needed. After a local anesthetic, incisions are made in your gums, exposing the bone. We then drill a hole into the jawbone and place the implant. Your gums are sutured around the implant, and a temporary crown is placed.
Healing from your procedure can take a few weeks. As you heal, your jawbone fuses to the implant, essentially turning the implant into a stable “root.” Once you have healed, we then take an impression to design and create your permanent crown.
There are several benefits to a dental implant:
| • |
They look 100% natural.
|
| • |
Implants are more comfortable. Your tooth is supported by the implant, rather than by your adjacent teeth.
|
| • |
Your adjacent teeth remain completely intact.
|
| • |
The implant acts like a tooth root and stimulates the jawbone, preventing the bone loss that is typically associated with tooth loss. |
 Multiple Missing Teeth Replacement
Tooth loss is a serious issue that has many negative effects:
| • |
Your ability to eat is hindered. Missing teeth make it difficult to both bite and chew your food. Chewing is the first step in the digestive process, during which you break down your food to make essential nutrients more accessible. When you cannot properly chew, your body has a harder time absorbing the nutrients and can lead to malnutrition.
|
| • |
Speaking becomes more challenging. Your teeth control the airflow, as well as allow you to make certain sounds. Without some of your teeth, this becomes harder, and others have a harder time understanding you.
|
| • |
Your risk of developing gum disease increases due to food becoming lodged.
|
| • |
Your smile is greatly impacted.
|
| • |
When you lose teeth, even only a few, your jawbone begins to grow weak and change shape. Adjacent healthy teeth start to shift into space, altering your bite. This can lead to serious jaw pain and temporomandibular joint disorder. |
Multiple Teeth Implants
Today, implants are one of the most popular options available for replacing missing teeth. Multiple teeth implants, or an implant supported bridge, is made specifically to replace several missing teeth in one area of your mouth. The number of implants used for an implant supported bridge depends on several factors, including how many teeth are being replaced.
Implants require a surgical procedure. After a local anesthetic is applied to the surgical sites, we make incisions in your gum tissue. Holes are drilled into your jawbone, and the implants placed. Your gums are then stitched closed. Healing can take up to a few months, depending on how many implants were placed. As you heal, your jawbone fuses with the implants, creating a stable support network for your false teeth. Once you have healed, impressions are used to design and create your permanent teeth, which are screwed into place on the implants.
Benefits of Multiple Teeth Implants
There are several benefits to multiple teeth implants:
| • |
All of the functions of your mouth are restored.
|
| • |
They do not require any removal of tooth enamel, leaving healthy teeth completely intact.
|
| • |
Because your teeth are supported by the implants, rather than your gums (or your adjacent teeth), they are more comfortable.
|
| • |
They provide you with a more natural appearance (there are no metal clasps to be seen).
|
| • |
Implants help to preserve the strength of your jawbone, avoiding the bone loss typically associated with tooth loss. This provides a permanent solution. |
In the past, when you were missing several teeth in the same area, you had two options – dental bridges (one to three missing teeth) or partial dentures. Dental bridges, which are usually made from ceramic, are designed to bridge the gap between your teeth. They consist of replacement teeth set between two crowns, which anchor on to your surrounding healthy teeth. They require some of the enamel of these teeth to be removed first. Partial dentures, on the other hand, are removable prosthetic teeth. The teeth are set into a colored gum base that is supported by your gums. They also have metal clasps that hook on to healthy teeth for additional support.
If you are missing teeth, single or multiple teeth implants may be able to help restore the functions, health, and beauty of your smile. Call Bite Lock at (972) 594-7414 to schedule your consultation today.
|
