When you lose only one tooth, this is still a major cause for concern. The gap in your smile could lead to serious complications with time, including further tooth loss. In today’s blog, your Santa Rosa, CA, oral and maxillofacial surgeons explain how we fill the gap with a dental implant and dental crown.
The Impact of a Single Missing Tooth
When you lose one of your teeth, this could make you feel embarrassed and impact how you smile and laugh. But the impacts are not just related to your appearance. The gap could cause the stability of your smile to shift, leading to misalignment that further harms your overall oral health. The jawbone tissue around the missing root will no longer receive doses of calcium and phosphorus, resulting in a breakdown of jawbone structure, a recipe for further tooth loss. The changes to smile balance could strain your jaw joints too, so you could suffer from the onset of TMJ disorder or even bruxism (chronic teeth grinding). However, replacing this missing tooth with a dental implant and crown could help prevent these complications!
A Dental Implant and Crown
First, we take detailed digital images of your smile, so we can plan the placement process with detail, choosing the right position and angle to ensure your new implant post supports the crown and stimulates the growth of jawbone tissue. This prevents misalignment, preserves bite balance, and ensures the jawbone doesn’t lose mass and density. Once we guide the new root into place with digital surgical guides, we will attach an abutment that extends above the gum line. A custom-made dental crown is then attached to the abutment. The restoration will be designed to not only fit comfortably, but to look natural and absorb daily bite forces just as your natural teeth do. Your new tooth could then last for decades to come, possibly even a lifetime in some cases!
Use Your Benefits
If you have missing teeth, then let us know right away! We would love to see you for treatment and to help you obtain a complete smile. Seeing us now means a chance to use your 2021 dental insurance benefits before they expire at the end of December. If you have any questions about replacing your missing teeth with lifelike and durable dental implants and crowns, then contact our team today.
Do You Have Any Questions About Our Dental Implants?
Our team wants to help address missing teeth and prevent complications for your oral health. To learn more about how we help address your missing tooth, then schedule a consultation by calling Santa Rosa Oral Surgery in Santa Rosa, CA, today at 707-545-4625.