Teeth can shift
Placing an implant
Bridge secured by implants

An Implant Bridge

Why do we need to replace the missing teeth

Placing a bridge after teeth have been lost can prevent a chain reaction of problems that could affect your entire mouth. Teeth need each other for support, and when a tooth is lost, the biting forces change on the teeth next to the space, causing them to shift. When a tooth on the opposite arch no longer has anything to chew against, it begins to extrude out of the socket. You can eventually end up losing it too.

As your bite changes, it gets harder and harder to chew your food and your jaw joint, the TMJ, may be damaged. It's also much harder to clean teeth that have shifted. Harmful plaque and tartar collect in these new hard-to-reach places, causing cavities and the permanent bone loss that comes with gum disease.

A bridge supported by implants

Dental implants are small titanium cylinders that are surgically inserted into the bone of the jaw to replace the roots of missing teeth. Artificial teeth are then attached to the implants, and can be used as part of a bridge.

A partial denture is another way to solve the problem of missing teeth, but there are several advantages to an implant-supported bridge. You avoid the clasps and metal work that come with a partial denture, and an implant can help stop the continuing bone loss that begins when teeth are removed. Using dental implants to support a bridge is an excellent way to replace missing teeth.

Receding jaw bone
Implants in lower jaw

Lower jaw implants

If you have a lower denture, you probably know how hard it can be to eat comfortably. When lower teeth are lost, the bone in the jaw continually recedes. Over time, this causes a lower denture to become loose and floppy. Even worse, there are nerves in the lower jaw that can end up on the surface of the bone. When you bite down, it hurts!

What are dental implants?

Fortunately, it's usually possible to place implants into the lower jaw so that you can avoid problems associated with dentures. Dental implants are small titanium cylinders that are surgically inserted into the bone of the jaw to replace the roots of missing teeth.

One way to use implants in the lower jaw is to connect the implants with a bar, and then put clips into a new lower denture. These clips snap onto the bar and keep the denture from rocking and shifting. The denture can still be removed at home for easy access and cleaning of the implants and bar. Another option is a lower bridge that may be cemented in or held in place by screws.

Implants in lower jaw

Benefits of dental implants

Using dental implants to support either a lower denture or bridge will keep the pressure off the bone and the nerves. The implants also help stop the bone loss in the jaw that continues once teeth have been removed. Securing restorations with dental implants can make a world of difference, allowing you to eat, talk, laugh, and smile with confidence again.

Teeth can shift
Placing an implant
A crown is placed

Single tooth implants

Why replace a missing tooth

Whenever you lose a tooth, the biting forces change on the teeth next to the space, causing them to shift. Opposing teeth may even begin to extrude out of the socket, which means they too could eventually be lost. Also, as your bite changes, it gets more difficult to chew your food, and you may suffer damage to your jaw joint. It's also much harder to clean teeth that have shifted; harmful plaque and tartar collect in the new hardto- reach places created by the shifting, causing tooth decay and periodontal disease.

As you can see, it's critical that we replace a lost tooth. An excellent option for replacing a missing tooth is an artificial tooth secured by a dental implant. Implants are titanium cylinders that are surgically placed in your jaw to serve as artificial tooth roots. Attaching a replacement tooth to an implant allows us to avoid placing a bridge. Bridges require that we prepare the adjacent natural teeth, and that weakens them substantially.

Benefits of implants

An implant and crown is practically indistinguishable from your natural teeth, and it fits so securely that you won't even notice it when you chew and speak. When we place an implant, it's not necessary for us to alter the structure of the adjacent teeth, so their strength and integrity is maintained. Also, an implant replaces the roots of a missing tooth, which helps to fend off the bone loss that occurs when a tooth is missing. In essence, an implant is the next best thing to your natural tooth.

Do implants work for everyone?

Start-to-finish, the procedure may require several months to complete, because it can take about four to six months for the implant to fuse to your bone tissue through a process called osseointegration. An implant won't work for you if you aren't in good general health. Your gums and jaw bone must be healthy enough to support the implant, and you must be meticulous about your daily home care routine. You'll also need to visit us up to four times a year for cleanings.

We won't recommend an implant if you suffer from a chronic illness such as diabetes, as this can interfere with healing. And if you're a smoker, you may not be a good candidate for an implant; smokers are at greater risk for gum disease, and gum disease weakens the bone and soft tissue needed to support the implant.

If you're interested in replacing a missing tooth with an implant, we will perform a thorough evaluation to determine whether your health and lifestyle make you a good candidate for this kind of restoration.

Small titanium cylinders
Multiple implants in place
Dentures clip to a bar

Upper Jaw Implants

Some people just aren't able to comfortably wear an upper denture. It doesn't stay in place, it gags them when they talk or chew, or it hurts constantly. The transition from their own teeth to an upper denture just never worked out. If you're one of these people and you'd love to get rid of your upper denture, then implants may be the answer.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are small titanium cylinders that are surgically inserted into the bone of the jaw to replace the roots of missing teeth. Bone in the upper jaw is continually lost once teeth have been removed. Implants help to stabilize the bone.

There are several ways to use implants in the upper jaw to replace a denture. One way is with a modified denture that's open on the palate. The denture clips to a bar that connects the implants. You can take it in and out by yourself at home. Another option is a bridge that may be cemented in place or secured by screws.

Replacing your missing teeth with dental implants and restorations can make a world of difference. You can eat, talk, laugh, and smile with confidence again.