Solutions to Curbing a Missing Tooth

Filling a gap tooth is an essential key in maintaining dental health, a healthy smile, and a complete bite. Losing a tooth is common after middle age due to reasons like injury, tooth decay, and gum diseases.

Reasons why you need your teeth replaced

Aesthetics is the common reason why people seek tooth replacement. There is beauty in having a complete set of teeth and displaying a perfect smile. This boost your confidence because how you look defines your feeling.

• Loss of bone mass is another reason. Teeth stimulate bone growth. Missing teeth cause the shrinking of the jaw, altering the face structure. The sinus cavity expands, and as more teeth drop, you are at risk of jaw fractures due to depletion of bone mass.
• Other teeth may get pushed forward or sideways. Crooked teeth have lots of adverse effects. They lead to joint pains and bites problems.
• The neighboring teeth may get infected if the tooth was infected. This will cause the loss of another tooth. Gaps in the dental will cause the other teeth to get loose, and they will also fall in the process. Gum infection is also likely to happen, leading to sore gums, which makes teeth weak and brushing a hard time. Replacing the already missing tooth will help curb this subsequent loss.
• TMJ disorders will be experienced, causing headaches and discomfort. This is due to the straining of temporomandibular joints when the teeth shift from their position. The joints connect the jaw bone to the skull.

Visiting a dentist as soon after a tooth loss is critical. An implant is a solution to replace your missing teeth and get you back to normal.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are frames or metal posts that are placed beneath your gums into the jaw bone through a surgical procedure. They act as the root and allow replacement teeth to be mounted onto them. The implants fuse with the jawbone and provide firm support to the individual dental crowns. Unlike your own teeth, the implants don’t decay.

For an implant, adjacent teeth don’t need to be ground down to hold the new tooth. The implant may be of two types;

• Endosteal implants: This includes the installation of an artificial root in your jaw bone meant to hold a replacement tooth and is the most common implant type.
• Subperiosteal implants: This is a metal framework implant attached above your jaw bone but under the gum tissue.

The implant procedure

First, you undergo a scan to determine how suitable the procedure is and to detect any other dental problems you may have. This initial stage ensures the success of the process to be undertaken is optimal.

The oral surgeon then cuts open the gum exposing the bone. A hole gets drilled inside your jaw bone. This is done to shelter the artificial root that holds the tooth. Sometimes bone grafting is done in cases where your bone is not strong enough.

After placing the implant into the jaw bone, time is allowed for the osseointegration – the process where the jawbone unites with the metal implant. This ensures that a firm base is provided for the new tooth. The procedure takes time to be completed, usually 2-4 months.

The abutment is then placed on the implant, and the gum is cut to reveal the implant. After abutment replacement, the gum is closed around but not covering the abutment and again left to heal for about 2 weeks.

You then choose the type of tooth you want. It can be removable or fixed. The artificial tooth is finally placed to match your dental crown. This whole process may take 4-6months.

After the procedure is done, minor bleeding, pain, swelling of the gums, and face may be experienced. Antibiotics or pain-relieving medications can be prescribed to help manage the effects. However, they don’t last long.

At Cupertino Family Dental, we offer successful implants, and other needed teeth care procedures. Our qualified medical practitioners are available to attend to your dental care needs as required. You can book your appointment now or visit our clinic for consultation.