Traditional Dental Implant – Ideal Choice for Replacing a Missing Tooth
Losing a single tooth is a common problem. Most people will want to get it replaced as soon as possible. Especially if the tooth is in their smile line. It’s important to replace any tooth that is missing as its loss can affect your overall dental health. Each tooth supports and protects other teeth.
When you lose a tooth, the teeth adjacent to the gap will soon begin to drift toward this space. This destabilizes these teeth and can affect your bite.
To prevent this from happening, call for a consultation in our Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn NY office with the Brooklyn dental implant dentist Dr. Umanoff at LuxDen Dental Implants Center: ☎ 1-718-382-3444.
As the teeth drift out of place, it can create an unsightly appearance.
The bone that used to surround your natural tooth root quickly begins to resorb. This can destabilize the teeth adjacent. A single tooth implant is a cost-effective long-term solution that protects and preserves your existing natural teeth and your bite, and it protects your jawbone.
Why Choose a Single Tooth Implant?
Traditional options include partial dentures and dental bridges, but a single tooth implant is the gold standard treatment. Single tooth implants are self-supporting and provide significant support and protection for the adjacent teeth. The plan and placement is relatively quick and non-invasive.
Other alternative options:
- Partial dentures are supported by clasps around your existing natural teeth. They can weaken these teeth, potentially causing problems or even their loss in the future. Partial dentures cannot provide a similar biting or chewing strength compared to natural or implant teeth.
- Dental bridges are supported by natural teeth that must be ground down and reshaped so they can be crowned. The crowns are attached to the replacement tooth or pontic, creating a strong and stable prosthesis. You will find any dentist is reluctant to reshape healthy teeth because removing any healthy structure increases the risk of tooth decay and infection in these teeth in the future.
Who Is Suitable for a Single Tooth Implant?
Single tooth implants are suitable for anyone with reasonable dental and general health, and whose teeth and jaws have finished growing and developing.
You cannot have any signs of active periodontal disease or other dental problems. Certain medical conditions may increase the risk of implant failure.
What Is the Procedure for a Single Tooth Implant?
The procedure for a single tooth implant is straightforward. You will need an initial consultation at LuxDen dental implants practice. Our experienced dentist, Dr. Leonard Umanoff, examines your teeth and jaws. He discusses your dental and medical history, ensuring you are suitable for treatment.
If the failing tooth still needs to be extracted, Dr. Umanoff can discuss whether to do this during surgery or beforehand. He can talk to you about other possible costs for bone grafting and a temporary tooth. Although we might be able to give you a rough estimate, you will learn more about the costs following diagnostic tests.
Diagnostic Tests
We use a cone beam CT scan to plan every treatment at LuxDen Dental Center. The scan provides valuable information about your jawbone and the structures that must be avoided during surgery. Every surgery is computer-guided, providing more precise and predictable treatment outcomes, which, ensures happier patients. Dr. Umanoff might also want to take other diagnostic tests such as a panoramic x-ray, dental impressions, or photographs of your teeth.
Planning Single Tooth Implant Surgery
Your diagnostic tests are used to determine the best location for your new tooth, which is critical to ensure treatment achieves excellent aesthetic and functional results. Computer software is used to manipulate these images, determine the depth and angulation of the new tooth, and decide which system is best for your needs. Once the treatment plan is complete, we create a surgical stent or template for use during placement.
Placing Your Dental Implant
Single tooth implants are usually completed using local anesthetic because the procedure is relatively short and comfortable. A small incision is made in the gums to expose the underlying bone. Once exposed, the surgical stent is used to guide the placement, ensuring Dr. Umanoff replicates the treatment plan accurately.
Afterward, a healing cap is placed over the new tooth to protect it while it bonds with the bone. The healing cap allows us to manage your gum tissue. The cap shapes the new tooth so it is surrounded with healthy gum tissue, creating an aesthetically pleasing effect.
Fitting Your Implant Crown
A temporary tooth can be fitted during the placement. It is worn during the healing period when osseointegration must occur. After osseointegration during which your implant fuses with the surrounding bone, we remove the healing cap. Your implant crown is fitted to complete the procedure.
What to Expect after Single Tooth Implant Surgery?
Single-tooth implant surgery typically takes an hour or less to complete, so recovery is very quick. Because surgery is computer-guided, the need for incisions and stitches is minimized. This makes healing faster and more comfortable. We will provide precise instructions on how to care for the site while it heals. We may recommend using an antimicrobial mouth rinse for the first week following surgery. It is better to avoid biting or chewing in that region of your mouth while the tooth heals as it must remain undisturbed during this process.
What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Single Tooth Implants?
Advantages of single tooth implants include:
- Minimally invasive and quick oral surgery.
- Protect and help to preserve your natural teeth.
- Easy to care for and can be brushed and flossed normally.
- Long-lasting and can be more cost-effective compared with a three-tooth bridge.
- Treatment is predictable and has a high success rate.
- Look and feel natural, restoring your ability to bite, chew, talk, and smile comfortably and confidently.
Disadvantages of single tooth implants include:
- Treatment is initially more expensive compared with other options, but it does offer a long-term solution.
- People with decayed or infected teeth adjacent to the gap may prefer a three-tooth bridge that protects and restores these teeth also.
Single tooth implants are very easy to care for. You can brush them normally and floss around them without using any special tools. It is important to adhere to an excellent oral hygiene routine that includes regular checkups and cleanings with your dentist.
Cost for a Single Dental Implant
The cost of a single dental implant can vary tremendously depending on the type of dental implants and crown used. Implant crown materials can have a precious metal substructure that is covered up with porcelain or they may be all-ceramic or can be made from zirconia. The costs of these crowns can vary considerably. Read more about titanium vs zirconia dental implants.
Do you have any questions about the single tooth implants placement? Would you like to schedule an appointment with one of the best dental implant dentist in Brooklyn Dr. Umanoff of LuxDen Dental Implants Center, please contact our office for a consultation with the dentist.
