Single Tooth Implants
Allentown, PA
 Very few people live their entire life with all 32 of their teeth. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), most Americans lose a significant number of their permanent teeth by the age of 50. This could be due to a variety of reasons, including injury, tooth decay, or gum disease. Unfortunately, tooth loss does not only affect your facial appearance, but it can also weaken your jawbone, negatively affect how you eat, and even impact your self-esteem. If you have lost a tooth, can help improve both the function and appearance of your smile through the aid of a dental implant.
What Is a Single Tooth Dental Implant?
A dental implant is a titanium post that is surgically placed in your jawbone, to help serve as a root of a missing tooth. A crown is then placed on that implant, allowing it to closely resemble your own natural tooth. For many of our patients, a dental implant is recommended by our team as the best option for the replacement of a missing tooth, as it is a permanent type of restoration.
How We Place a Single Tooth implant
Before we begin, we will first check the implant site to verify that there is enough bone mass to support the implant itself. Next, we will place an incision in the gumline, then surgically place the dental implant into the jawbone. While the tooth heals, the implant will fuse with the natural bone, giving both of them time to grow together. This is a process called osseointegration. This will help form a good foundation for tooth replacement. This process may take several months to completely heal.
Once the implant has fused with the jawbone, the crown (the restoration) is placed on top of the abutment. Small posts, which look like screws, are used to attach the crown to the titanium implant. These crowns replace the missing or damaged teeth with the artificial one, which closely resembles your real tooth.
Benefits of a Dental Implant
The main benefit of dental implants is the strong support it provides for your new teeth. This process might take longer than dentures or bridges, as it requires the bone to heal while attached to the implant. Furthermore, dental implants are made of a material that resists damage and tooth decay, providing you with a restoration that can last you the rest of your life. Since the titanium in the implants integrates with your jawbone, this helps prevent bone loss at the site. It also looks and feels more natural than a denture or bridge. Dental implants also improve your general oral health, speech, and self-esteem.
Who is a Candidate for a Single Dental Implant?
You may be a candidate for a single dental implant if you are missing one tooth, if wearing dentures makes you uncomfortable, and if you have good oral hygiene. Additionally, implants are ideal if you have a mature jawbone, you have enough jawbone (or can have a bone graft or ridge augmentation), and if you do not have any underlying condition that can affects your jawbone. We advise patients who use tobacco products to cease use of them before they get a dental implant, as it can delay healing.
Dental implants are a fantastic restoration option for many patients. If you would like to learn more about single tooth dental implants, please contact us here at Lehigh Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at today.
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