Single Tooth Replacement
Marysville, WA
 A person’s smile is extremely important to their daily life, and having a tooth missing from that smile can be a source of great anxiety and stress for many. Indeed, many people are missing a tooth, which makes this a fairly common concern for many patients. Missing a tooth, however, does not have to be stressful. There are a variety of procedures available to a person who may be missing a tooth, many of which are very convenient and affordable. For our patients who may have lost just one tooth, Grove Street Family Dentistry is pleased to offer several restoration options to help restore your smile and allow you to feel confident once more.
Should I get a Bridge or a Single Tooth implant?
Two of the main ways to repair a smile missing a tooth are either a dental bridge or a single tooth implant. Dental bridges are a type of restoration device that attaches to the teeth neighboring the missing one. To place a bridge, the teeth next to the missing tooth are shaved down slightly to better support the dental bridge. The main benefit of a dental bridge is that they are very cost-effective. Furthermore, they do not usually require that a patient seek bone grafting in the event the patient suffers from mild bone loss.
However, dental bridges can have a negative impact on the surrounding teeth, especially the two teeth which are closest to the missing tooth. This means that dental bridges often tend to be a temporary solution, especially because dental bridges fail to address the underlying issues that may have caused the missing tooth in the first place. This is particularly important in instances in which tooth loss is the result of bone loss, as dental bridges do nothing to stop the decline of bone material.
One alternative form of a dental bridge, the cantilever bridge, attempts to mitigate this issue by placing all of the stress on a single tooth. However, this approach often creates additional dental problems for the patient due to the excessive pressure that can be endured by the tooth chosen to support the implant.
Benefits of Single Tooth Implants
Single tooth implants, conversely, have numerous advantages that make them more attractive to a patient, especially when compared to a dental bridge. Single tooth implants are designed to replace the tooth that is missing, as well as any root structure that is missing. This means that the underlying bone structure is, in turn, well supported and protected against any bone degeneration which may occur in the future.
Additionally, getting a dental implant has absolutely no negative impact on the neighboring teeth, which is a massive improvement from the dental bridge. Single tooth implants are also aesthetically superior to dental bridges, as they are designed to imitate the missing tooth as realistically as possible. Unlike other dental procedures, single tooth implants are not temporary and can last you the rest of your life. We also have solutions for those with multiple missing teeth.
The dental implant process may appear difficult and drawn out at first. At least three operations will be performed, and recovery times will differ. Although it is invasive, dental implant surgery has a 90% success rate, and recovery is frequently simple. At Grove Street Family Dentistry our doctors Tania Tran, DMD and make sure you get the best possible dental implants to negate the effects of tooth loss, including quicker recovery time for dental implant placement.
Deciding which dental procedure is best for you is a very personal one, but with the right guidance, it should not be a stressful one. To learn more, and ask important questions like are dental implants safe, please call us at Grove Street Family Dentistry at (360) 659-3200 today. |
