Single Tooth Implant
Lakewood, CO
Single Tooth Implant provided by Our Dentists
in Lakewood, CO at Northstar Dental
 Single-tooth implants have the power to transform your smile. Implant dentistry has revolutionized the world of dentistry, offering a permanent solution for missing teeth. Our team at Northstar Dental is ready to guide you through the fascinating process behind this transformative procedure, from initial consultation to final restoration.
What Is a Single-Tooth Implant?
A single-tooth dental implant is a permanent solution designed to replace a single missing tooth, including its root. It is surgically placed into the jawbone, providing a stable foundation for a crown that looks and functions just like your natural tooth.
Benefits of a Single-Tooth Implant
A single-tooth implant is a critical part of the dental restoration process, often performed for various reasons. The main reasons include the following:
Aesthetic Benefits
A single-tooth implant offers a significant aesthetic improvement to your smile and overall appearance. A missing tooth creates a noticeable gap, potentially affecting your confidence and self-esteem. A single-tooth implant seamlessly fills that space, restoring a beautiful, complete smile.
Oral Health Benefits
Missing teeth can lead to oral health issues. Certain foods may get stuck in the gap. Neighboring teeth may shift into the empty space, causing misalignment and bite problems. Additionally, the lack of a tooth root can lead to jawbone deterioration. A single-tooth implant fills the gap, stimulating the bone to prevent weakening and structural problems.
Dental Functionality
A single-tooth implant success is seen in the restoration of full dental functionality. It acts like your natural tooth, allowing you to chew comfortably without the discomfort associated with a missing tooth.
Longevity
While there are several options for replacing a missing tooth, a single-tooth implant offers exceptional longevity. With proper care, it can last for decades, making it a cost-effective, long-term solution.
The Single-Tooth Implant Procedure
The process of placing a single-tooth implant involves careful planning and multiple steps. Below, we outline what you can expect during the single-tooth implant process.
Evaluation and Planning
The first step is a thorough consultation with our dentist or oral surgeon. They will assess your bone density and overall oral health to determine if a single-tooth implant is the best solution for you. After the consultation, our dentist will develop a customized treatment plan based on your specific needs, including the placement and type of implant.
Sometimes, the tooth needing replacement is still present. In that case, it will first need to be extracted. After some time for full healing of the extraction site, the implant procedure begins.
Implant Placement
Implant placement is the heart of the single-tooth implant procedure. It involves three critical steps. The process starts with surgery, where our dentist will surgically place a tiny titanium post into the jawbone directly inside the empty socket left empty by the missing tooth. The titanium post acts as the root of the new tooth.
After completing the implant placement step, the dentist will ask you to go home for several weeks to allow the implant to heal. Sometimes, the healing period can take a few months. It involves the implant fusing with the surrounding bone in a process called osseointegration to ensure that the new tooth has a stable foundation.
Abutment Attachment
Several weeks or a few months later, you will return to our practice to have the implant abutment attached. We will make a tiny incision in the gum to access the previously inserted titanium post. Abutment attachment is the process of placing the connector piece on the implant that has fully integrated with your jawbone. The abutment becomes the anchor for the dental crown, which is the visible part of the replacement tooth.
Crown Placement
The next step in the single-tooth implant procedure is crown restoration. The crown is an artificial tooth made to match your natural teeth in color, shape, and size so that it seamlessly provides you with the best possible results. The crown is then placed on the abutment, which then holds it in place.
Final Adjustments
The final adjustment step in the procedure is necessary to ensure that the new tooth fits well, and adjustments are made when there is a problem with its size and fitting. The adjustment also ensures that the new tooth is comfortable and functions properly like the tooth you lost. The entire process can take several months, and the time needed is because it provides a long-lasting solution to a missing tooth.
How to Care for a Dental Implant
The biggest threat to your single-tooth implant is peri-implantitis, which is an infection that occurs around the site of the implants. Here are a few ways to protect your implant:
Use a Soft-Bristled Toothbrush
Avoid toothbrushes with hard bristles. They can damage your tooth enamel, which is bad for your implant. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush exclusively after getting your dental implant.
Do Not Use Abrasive Toothpaste
Abrasion of any kind is not good for your implants. There are low-abrasive kinds of toothpaste that are good for your oral health while ensuring that you do not damage your implants with abrasive toothpaste.
Floss Daily
You should brush and floss daily to remove plaque and food particles that tend to accumulate between the teeth. Flossing removes any particles that the toothbrush cannot remove. You should also find implant-friendly floss for the best protection.
Avoid Hard or Sticky Foods
Foods that require much force to break down can damage your implants, so you should avoid them. Sticky foods, on the other hand, can adhere to the implants and create room for plaque to build up.
Reduce Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol contains a high level of harmful sugars that can promote tooth decay, and it can be a source of problems for your dental implants. Alcohol increases the speed with which plaque accumulates while also slowing down your post-dental implant healing process.
Visit the Dentist Regularly
You should make a point of going for regular dental checks if you desire a healthy mouth. They will inspect your implant to make sure it is still functioning as intended. You should have at least two dental checks per year.
Solve Your Dental Problems With a Single-Tooth Implant
A single-tooth implant is a long-lasting solution for missing teeth and associated dental problems. Our team at Northstar Dental is dedicated to providing personalized restorative dentistry solutions. Contact us today at (303) 481-3901 to schedule a consultation and discuss if tooth replacement through implants is right for you. |
