Tooth loss can occur for a variety of reasons, but if left untreated, you can suffer from further dental health concerns. Dental implants can be the ideal tooth replacement solution for you.
There are several different implant types available that can restore your unique smile. Dr. Alan Dechter and Dr. Matthew Moy, dentists in Silver Spring, MD, describe three types of dental implants that can help patients with missing teeth.
Single Dental Implants
A single dental implant features a titanium post that is surgically placed into the jaw. Once this heals, your dentist secures a prosthetic tooth or crown to an abutment above the gumline attached to the post.
This implant works for dental patients who are missing one tooth and seek a replacement. This treatment enhances the appearance of your smile by filling the gap where the tooth was lost. Its presence also prevents the shifting of your remaining teeth.
Implant-Supported Dental Bridges
Patients who are missing several teeth in a row can benefit from an implant-supported dental bridge. This fixture uses two titanium posts: one on each end of the bridge prosthetic.
Implants, including dental bridges, can restore oral function. Patients with tooth loss often struggle to eat or speak normally, but implants can help these individuals chew and speak with confidence, knowing their tooth replacements are permanent, secure, and effective.
All-on-Four Dental Implants
All-on-Four dental implants can help patients who seek a replacement for an entire arch of teeth. Many patients use this type of implant to replace both the top and bottom arches of teeth.
This fixture uses four titanium posts in the jaw to secure the prosthetic arch. These posts can treat bone loss in the jaw because they replace the root of the tooth that is absent following tooth loss.
Without the stimulation of the tooth root, the jawbone deteriorates. Dental implants stop this bone loss and also encourage the regeneration of any bone that may have already deteriorated. Other tooth replacement solutions might not treat this condition because they replace teeth only at the gum line.