Dental Implants for Replacing Missing Teeth

It is not uncommon to lose a tooth or many due to age, injury or even tooth decay. This missing tooth can be the source of acute embarrassment and frustration. You may hesitate to smile and shy away from taking pictures. Most people tend to cover their mouth when they laugh or even speak, lest the gap in the teeth becomes visible.

Besides being an eyesore, other problems also surface. Chewing food and even pronouncing certain words becomes a hurdle as your tongue tends to keep sliding into the gap. Food is likely to accumulate and decay in the same gap, which can lead to several other tooth and gum problems. The surrounding teeth also start shifting and leaning towards the empty space, causing a serious misalignment in the teeth structure. Bone loss may follow gradually too.

Then again, teeth support the muscles in the face. When a tooth or two is missing, you will not realize that your facial features are shifting and sagging, creating an odd or aged look over a period of time.

Implants enter the picture

Good oral health demands that you fill in the gap of the missing tooth with a replacement one. This is possible through a dental implant at a qualified dentist in Toledo, Ohio.

When a tooth goes missing, you lose the root and supporting bone as well. Therefore, now you need a new root that will stabilize the bone as well as anchor the replacement tooth to the jawbone and allow it function like your natural teeth. This artificial root is what is called a dental implant.

A dental implant is surgically inserted into the jawbone in place of the missing tooth. This substitute tooth root is made of titanium, as is compatible with our body.

The jawbone is allowed to slowly grow around the implant and bond with it so as to anchor it properly into the jaw. This can take 3 to 6 months. If needed, you can wear temporary dentures during this process.

The dentist will continue to take impressions of your teeth and use them to create a new tooth for you. A small connector post is attached over the implant and this abutment will securely hold the replacement tooth crown.

As the new tooth has a strong foundation in the dental implant, it will look, feel and work just as your own tooth had. You have to brush, floss and care for it regularly just like your regular teeth!

Who can do it?

Dental implants involve less pain than a regular tooth extraction and have the highest success rate of any implanted surgical device. However, you need to find a skilled and experienced dentist in Toledo, Ohio who can insert the dental implants in an efficient and comfortable manner.

The right dentist will evaluate your needs and understand your concerns before determining if dental implants are appropriate for you. He or she should discuss the options with you and address your concerns about the recommended procedures. Once you are satisfied and agree to receiving dental implants, your mouth and jaw needs to be thoroughly assessed with specialized x-rays and scans to formulate an individualized treatment plan for proper placement of the implants.

In the right hands, dental implants are highly successful and can even last a lifetime. There will not be any difficulty in chewing or slurred words anymore. Your appearance will improve and you can flash your beautiful smile with comfort and confidence once again!

Have you ever got a missing tooth replaced? Share your experiences below.

The author, Nathan Gerrard shares his views on dentist in Toledo OH. He adds the importance on how to adopt a healthy lifestyle and take care of oral problems.