Dental implants can address a single missing tooth, or even take on advanced tooth loss by securing fixed dentures. These not only function like natural teeth, but they look great too! In today’s blog, your Shrewsbury, MA, dentist talks about how we ensure your new teeth will look natural with our dental implants.
Don’t Ignore Your Tooth Loss
When you suffer the loss of one or more of your teeth, don’t let these embarrassing gaps in our smile lead to more severe consequences. When we lose teeth, the spaces in our smile could allow surrounding teeth to drift from position, creating misalignment that further alters smile beauty and overall oral health. The pressure on your jaw joints due to the gaps in your smile could also mean a greater risk of the onset of TMJ disorder and bruxism (teeth grinding). The body will stop sending doses of calcium and phosphorus to the portions of the jaw where the missing roots are, which causes the bone structure to gradually break down. You’re now at risk for further tooth loss and an aged appearance! But dental implants can offer a lifelike solution that prevents these complications from occurring.
Implants Act as New Roots
The implant portion is a biocompatible titanium post that the body will accept as a natural root. We will use digital x-rays to plan the placement of them, selecting the right angle, position, and depth to insert them. Once they’re placed onto the jaw, they bond with the bone structure, which supports them like natural roots. You now have a base for your new tooth or teeth that can remain in place for decades to come, or possibly a lifetime. In comparison, bridges and dentures tend to require replacement about every ten years on average.
Lifelike Restorations and Dental Prosthetics
Once your new root is in place, we can begin work on the physical portion of your new tooth, the part people see when you smile. For an individual dental implant, our team can craft a custom crown that looks natural. We then attach an abutment to the post that extends above the gum line, providing structure to connect your crown. The crown not only looks natural but provides proper bite balance and offers a durable chewing surface too. If you have more substantial cases of tooth loss, our team could use one or two dental implants to support a custom bridge, or several per arch to support a full set of dentures too. In fact, with options like hybrid dentures, we could complete the entire process, from placing the new roots to securing a custom denture, in only one visit.
Do You Have Gaps In Your Smile?
Our team is ready to offer replacements for your missing teeth that look and function like natural teeth. To find out more about our approach to implant dentistry, then please call our Shrewsbury/Grafton, MA area dental office at 508-842-8838.
