Options After Losing a Tooth

Searching for an experienced clinic to get dental implants? A full set of healthy teeth is good for much more than selfies. While they are technically not bones, your teeth are a structurally important part of your skeleton. When damage or decay threatens the viability of a tooth, your dentist will do as much as possible to try to save the tooth rather than remove it. Missing teeth can result in other issues in the long run, causing the remaining teeth to shift and the jaw bone to weaken.

Sometimes the tooth simply cannot be saved and has to be removed to avoid damage to surrounding teeth, bone, and gums. When this happens there are a few options available to patients to fill the space left by the missing tooth. Partial dentures, bridges, and dental implants are meant to replace missing teeth, though each solution behaves differently. Dentures are removable replacements for teeth, generally used when many or all teeth are missing. Bridges are permanently affixed between two crowns on either side of the missing tooth to hold the replacement tooth in place. Dental implants are surgically implanted so that they look and feel like natural teeth. Of these options, implants most closely mimic the structure and appearance of a natural tooth.

How Dental Implants Work

The procedure for inserting a dental implant involves a titanium screw that is surgically inserted in the gap where the tooth is missing. The screw will eventually fuse to the jawbone to form a biological bond. An artificial tooth is then attached to the fixture/screw. Dental implants are very durable, have excellent structural integrity, and do not require much maintenance beyond regular brushing and flossing.

Who Is a Candidate for Dental Implants?

The success of dental implants relies in part on the health of the jawbone to which the titanium screw much attaches. If there has been damage, deterioration, severe osteoporosis, or any other cause to weaken the jawbone, the implant may not fuse properly. In some cases, bone grafts are possible to solve the problem of a weakened jawbone.

Does My Insurance Cover an Implant?

Most dental benefit plans do not cover the cost of cosmetic dentistry procedures. Many plans will partially cover the cost of implants that are needed to restore the damage caused by accident, or illness. Your dentist should be able to give you advice on the options available and help work with your insurance provider to determine whether the procedure will qualify.

What are the Risks and Benefits of Implants?

There are pros and cons to each treatment option for replacing lost teeth. Your dentist should discuss all of them with you to determine which option is the best. The downside to dental implants is the higher cost and the recovery time. Recovery takes anywhere from weeks to months depending on whether bone grafting was needed. However, implants are popular because they are less likely to result in the shifting of the remaining teeth and further deterioration of the jaw. Implants also don’t slip or move around while eating and they can last a lifetime with relatively little maintenance.

If you are interested in dental implants to replace a missing tooth, contact Midland Bay Dental to discuss the options and whether implants are the right solution for you. Call us at (705) 526-6441 or contact us through our website to book an appointment to meet Dr. Sidhu to discuss and assess your oral health care needs.