Replacing a missing tooth has never been easier with this restorative treatment

what are dental implants When considering your oral health, replacing a missing tooth is important to maintain optimal oral health. But what is the best treatment for your situation? The thing about tooth loss is there can be many different reasons for it. Reasons such as accident, injury, tooth decay or gum disease can all cause tooth loss. If you have lost a tooth from gum disease this will need to be treated prior to any restorative work. If a tooth has been knocked out Dr. Curtis Couch will need to assess the health of your jaw and gums to ensure there’s no other trauma. Knowing the cause of tooth loss informs the best way to approach treatment. The most effective treatment for tooth loss is always implant dentistry. This is because unlike dental bridges, implant dentistry—in three phases over six months—replaces the whole tooth.

Replacing the whole tooth

When you lose a tooth it affects the health of your jawbone. The particular bone that holds a tooth root in place starts to atrophy. This process happens as soon as you lose a tooth.  This process occurs because without a tooth there is no stimulation for jawbone growth. With implant dentistry you replace a tooth and help to maintain the health of your jaw.

What are dental implants?

Implant dentistry is the best way to replace a missing tooth. This treatment involves the placement of a dental implant and a prosthetic tooth attachment. The dental implant is a medical-grade titanium screw that is placed at the site of the missing tooth root. Being made from medical-grade titanium the dental implant is biocompatible with your jaw, so there is only a miniscule chance your body could reject the implant. It should be noted that the success rate of implant dentistry is more than 96%. When dental implants are placed at the site of the missing tooth root, a process known as osseointegration takes places. This is where your jawbone fuses to the dental implant—osseointegration takes between 3 to 4 months depending on a number of factors such as whether or not the implant is placed in the upper or lower jaw; and your body’s natural ability to heal.

Why dental implants are always the best option for replacing a missing tooth

One of the few obstacles to implant dentistry is jawbone density. Without adequate jawbone density the risk of implant failure is high. That is why during your initial consultation x-rays are taken to ascertain the health of your jawbone. If you lack adequate jawbone density, you will require a bone graft. This surgical procedure will give you the jawbone density you require for the placement of a dental implant.

Why don’t I just get a dental bridge and avoid the jaw surgery?

The problems with getting a dental bridge that isn’t supported by a dental implant are: it doesn’t provide the same support for your jaw and it requires two healthy teeth to be shaved down for crowns. Jawbone shrinkage can cause further tooth loss. It can cause a bad bite and it can cause headaches, neck and back pain.  A combination of implant dentistry and jaw surgery will help to stimulate your jawbone and prevent further atrophy. If you would like to know more about implant dentistry, and how Curtis Couch DDS in Thousand Oaks can help you, please contact us today.