When disease or accident ends in tooth loss, it's good to know that options for restoring your smile are available. Instead of missing a tooth or wearing a denture, implants are now becoming the treatment of choice by most patients (according to the American Dental Association).
There are numerous choices for implant treatment:
1. Single tooth implants:
Replaces a single missing tooth (keeps the surrounding healthy teeth untouched, while strengthening integrity of your chewing by replacing the single missing tooth.
2. Implant Supported Bridges: An implant supported bridge can replace three or more missing teeth without treating healthy teeth on each side of the missing teeth space.
3. Implant Supported Denture:
If you are missing all of your teeth or just upper or lower arch, you have the treatment option of replacing your teeth or existing ill fitting denture with a snap in/screw in implant supported denture that is comfortable and stays in place.
Implants are treated in three steps:
1. Surgical placement of implant in the jaw.
2. Implant is uncovered and the dentist attaches an abutment to the implant. The gum tissue will need healing time and once healed, the implant and post serve as the foundation for the new crown.
3. An implant crown is placed on the implant.