Dental Implants - Several Missing Teeth

Attractive, natural looking teeth help us feel and look our best. We are able to enjoy the foods we love, when we want. They allow us to be ourselves, confident where it really counts; at home, on the job, on the playing field, but most importantly and especially, on the inside.

The loss or damage of several teeth can have a considerable impact on everyday life and self esteem. The immediate solution to lost or damaged teeth is replacement. If the front teeth are damaged or lost, one rushes to the dentist to have them replaced. Why then do we wait if the teeth are not visible when we smile? Are they less important? The answer is NO, yet many years can go by without replacement.

Ignoring these gaps has a more considerable negative effect than you may even realize. When we chew, a healthy tooth strengthens the quality of bone in our jaw; similar to how exercise prevents bone loss. When a gap is present, and the bone loss has started healthy teeth tend to shift towards the open space. Teeth in the opposing arch may also drop into the gap due to a loss of equal opposing force, simple physics. This affects how our upper and lower teeth meet and align. It also affects how pressure is applied on the existing teeth and surrounding muscles and joints. Additional pressure may result in pain and various other symptoms such as headaches or migraines.

Dental implants have been used and accepted by dental professionals for over 40 years as a proven and trusted method of tooth replacement. Implants are made of biocompatible materials, namely titanium. As a result they are accepted by your body and allergic reactions are very rare. With proper care and good oral hygiene your implant can actually last a lifetime.

The sooner your missing teeth are replaced after loss or damage the better. The condition of your bone in the jaw is crucial. Adequate bone is necessary for implant placement. As time passes, the bone in the area of the missing teeth begins to resorb or diminish, reducing the “prime retail space” for the implants as anchors. In many cases it is possible to build up the boney area to permit optimal implant placement and integration.

Two or more implants which serve as artificial roots are placed within the gap and a ceramic bridge (usually consisting of 3 or more teeth) is affixed to the implants. Your implants will be comfortable and the ceramic teeth will feel natural and match in color and contour as well, making it a challenge to distinguish your natural teeth to your “new” ones.

In ideal cases, implants can be placed in as little as one session. However, your treatment plan will be dependent on your particular clinical situation. Depending on the treatment procedure, it may take between one and two hours for the placement of the implants. Afterwards, the implants needs time to integrate so they can fuse with the bone. This is why the quality of the bone is so important when placing implants; the better the bone quality, the better the conditions and shorter integration periods. Once the implants have integrated, preparations for the final restorations may commence.

The custom made precision bridge is fabricated using biocompatible materials and is attached to the implants using cement or tiny screws. The bridge consists of your new teeth, looking and feeling like your own. Ensuring proper oral hygiene and keeping up with professional dental check ups will result in your implants lasting for many years, possibly up to an entire lifetime.

Adapted from Nobel Biocare USA LLC., www.nobelsmile.com