If you are missing teeth, you may feel embarrassed every time you smile. You may notice you slur certain words, and you may experience discomfort when you eat. Often included in a smile makeover, dental implants are an effective, long-term way to replace one or more missing teeth.
Dr. Schmid restores dental implants at Contemporary Cosmetic Dentistry, bringing a high level of aesthetic skill to the crown and restoration phase of your treatment.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are a secure and stable way to replace a missing tooth. A titanium screw is placed beneath the gums, where your missing tooth’s roots used to be, as a foundation. A dental crown or bridge is then placed on top to replace the visible portion of the tooth. Once placed, dental implants undergo a process called “osseointegration,” during which the implant fuses with the bone where it was placed. This process creates a strong bond, and your implant will not shift. Implants can often last a lifetime.
How Do Dental Implants Work?
Dental implants are optimal for replacing missing teeth, because they are implanted in bone. They replace the entire tooth structure, and they can be utilized to replace a single tooth or many missing teeth.
The structure of a dental implant consists of three parts:
- The titanium screw implanted below the gums
- The abutment, which is a small metal post that serves to connect the titanium implant with the replacement tooth on top
- A dental crown or bridge to replace the visible portion of the missing tooth
A crown is used to replace one or just a few missing teeth. If you are missing many teeth in a row, a dental bridge or dentures may be used instead. During your consultation, Dr. Schmid will discuss your options and help you find the best treatment plan for your individual case.
Implants in the Aesthetic Zone: What You Should Know
Restoring implants in the front of the mouth requires an extra level of skill and attention to detail. Color matching, shape, and position all have to work together, and the placement of the implant must be determined by where the bone is.
Watch Dr. Schmid walk through a real case below, where he restored two implant crowns in the aesthetic zone as part of a full smile makeover.
Advantages of Dental Implants
Dental implants are inserted directly into the jawbone where they act as replacements for the roots of missing teeth. This is the primary function of dental implants, and also their most significant benefit.
When a tooth is missing, so too is its root. The roots of your teeth both anchor the teeth to the jaw and ensure proper mineralization remains around each tooth. When a root goes away, the signals it sends are lost, allowing the body to reabsorb minerals around the missing tooth and produce a sunken or collapsed appearance. By replacing the roots of missing teeth, dental implants prevent jaw collapse and preserve the natural structure of your face.
In addition to preventing changes to the structure of your jaw, dental implants offer the following benefits:
- Complete restoration of bite tension, strength, and function
- Prevention of adjacent tooth slippage
- Entirely natural-looking end results
- Long-term durability, often lasting a lifetime
Implants are generally considered the best way to replace a missing tooth, but they are not right for everyone. Depending on your unique situation, dentures or bridges may be a better option.
Are You a Candidate for Dental Implants?
Most people who are missing teeth are candidates for implants. However, a comprehensive examination by an experienced dentist is necessary to determine if you are a good candidate. Generally, an ideal candidate for dental implants has:
- One or more missing teeth
- Adequate bone tissue at the site of the missing tooth
- Healthy gums
- The ability to quit smoking, if applicable
- No uncontrolled chronic health conditions
Smoking significantly increases the risk of implant failure and surgical complications. If you smoke or use tobacco products, you will need to stop for at least one month before surgery. Chronic health conditions such as diabetes can also affect implant outcomes, so it is important to have any ongoing health issues under control and to receive clearance from your primary care doctor before moving forward.
Implant Supported Dentures
If you have several missing teeth in a row, or if an entire arch needs to be replaced, implant supported dentures can be a great option. They offer more stability than adhesive dentures and do a better job of preserving jaw shape over time. Dr. Schmid offers both full and partial implant supported dentures, depending on your individual needs.
Full dentures use small bars running the length of the jaw that the dentures clip onto. Partial dentures are secured with a ball and socket setup. During your consultation, Dr. Schmid will walk you through all available options and help you determine which is the best fit.
The Dental Implant Process
While the initial placement takes just one visit, the full implant process spans several months. Here is what the general timeline looks like:
- The implant is surgically placed in your jaw.
- Time is allowed for osseointegration. This can take up to 6 months or longer.
- Once the implant has fully fused with the jaw, you return for placement of a temporary crown
- A final visit removes the temporary crown and places your permanent crown, shaped, sized, and colored to blend seamlessly with your smile
Maintaining regular cleanings after your implant is placed is important for keeping both the implant and your remaining teeth healthy long term.
Consequences of Missing Teeth
Leaving a missing tooth unreplaced can have far-reaching effects over time, including:
- Bone loss in the jaw
- Receding gums
- Weakened neighboring teeth
- A hollow or sagging appearance in the lower face
Once a tooth is lost, the roots no longer stimulate the jawbone, triggering bone loss and gum recession. This can weaken neighboring teeth and set off a chain reaction of additional tooth loss. Without this tooth support, your lower face will start to appear hollow and the skin will begin to sag. Missing teeth also affect speech and make eating more difficult depending on which teeth are involved.
Schedule Your Dental Implant Consultation in Austin Today
If you have one or more missing teeth, schedule your consultation with Dr. John Schmid at Contemporary Cosmetic Dentistry. He will help determine if you are a good candidate for implants and walk you through your options for restoring a healthy, beautiful smile. We proudly serve patients in Austin, Bee Cave, Lakeway, and nearby areas of Texas.