We recently talked about bridges and removable dentures, and how they address missing teeth. But for a more natural looking and long-lasting solution, we can address minor or severe tooth loss with implant dentistry. In today’s blog, your Virginia Beach, VA, dentist talks about placing dental implants.
The Aftermath of Tooth Loss
Let’s talk about what to expect following tooth loss. Obviously, you may feel uncomfortable about your smile’s appearance, and tooth loss could impact how clearly you speak and limit your meal options too. The gaps could allow misalignment to develop in your smile, and the changes to your bite balance could impact chewing function and lead to TMJ disorder and bruxism (teeth grinding). You also lose mass and density in your jaw since the body stops sending calcium and phosphorus to the jaw structure around the lost root. Over time, this means further tooth loss and even a prematurely aged appearance! But with dental implants, we can prevent these major complications.
Preparing Your Smile
First, we will take a close look at your smile to assess the cause and severity of your missing teeth. We then make sure you have enough jawbone to support a new dental implant, and we will treat underlying oral health issues that cause missing teeth, such as periodontal disease. We then plan the angle and position to insert your new root to help stimulate the growth of your jawbone, so you have a new tooth that can last for years to come, possibly decades! This is far longer than traditional bridges or removable dentures.
Placing and Restoring New Teeth
With oral surgery, we will gently guide the new implant post into your jaw. As the area heals, osseointegration will occur, bonding the post with the jaw like a natural root. We then attach an abutment to the post that extends above the gum line. We can attach the finished restoration to it, a crown that looks natural and absorbs daily bite forces with precision and accuracy. You then have a new tooth that looks and functions like a natural one. If you have advanced tooth loss, we could use several posts to secure a bridge or even a fixed denture in place, so you have a complete smile again with lifelike results and better bite function.
If you have any questions about how to treat missing teeth with implant dentistry, then contact our team today to learn more. We want to help you enjoy a complete smile once again!
Treat Your Missing Teeth In Virginia Beach, VA
We would like to help you smile with confidence following the loss of your teeth. Call Absolute Dental Care in Virginia Beach, VA at 757-428-7440 to schedule an appointment for you and your family’s next visit.
