A missing tooth brings down the chewing efficiency of a person. As a result the person may choose to bite and chew food on the other side of the oral cavity. There is bone resorption and increased risk of malocclusion. When there are a few teeth missing, the facial skin starts to sag because of the bone shrinking.
To resolve these problems and to aid proper functionality of oral cavity, our dentist recommends restoring lost tooth with a dental implant. It is an artificial tooth root which can bring back the healthy smile on patient’s face.
Dental implant surgeries performed at our Beaumont, California office have positively influenced the life of many patients in the city and surrounding communities. The restoration stays permanently in the oral cavity if proper care is taken. If you are suffering from tooth loss, come speak to our dentist about your concerns. Our dentist can recommend the best solution for you.
Tooth loss – How it affects oral health?
A person may lose a tooth because of decay, periodontal disease or trauma. When a tooth is lost because of dental infection, the patient remains at risk of further damage to oral cavity. It is important to get a thorough oral check up and receive treatment if the dental infection does spread to other teeth or parts of oral cavity. Tooth loss causes a serious deficiency in the oral cavity.
Following are some of the after affects of losing a tooth.
- The nearby teeth may shift positions leading to orthodontic problems
- Chewing efficiency drops
- Increased risk of tooth wear
- Bone resorption
Dental Implant – Restoration procedure
An implant is designed to replace a lost tooth root. It can be made of titanium or zirconium. Both these materials have the ability to bond with bone tissues and become an integral part of the jawbone. The implant is surgically inserted into the supporting bone and it is left to heal and integrate with the bone.
When a patient visits our dental office to replace his/her lost tooth using a implant, the first step is to perform a oral examination. Our dentist checks for signs of infection. If Gum disease is found during the course, then this has to be treated first. We may take X-rays to check the status of supporting bone. The jawbone should have enough bone volume to support the restoration. Our dentist makes a note of patient’s medical history as well. A treatment plan is set and the placement of each dental implant is mapped out. At the same time the patient is informed about the process and we can answer any of your questions during the consultation as well.
The placement of a dental implant in the supporting bone requires a surgery to be performed. The surgical site is firstly numbed using local anesthesia. An incision is made in the gums and a bony recess is created using a series of dental instruments. The implant placed in position. The gums are sutured back and the restoration is left to heal. After the healing period, our dentist checks if the implant is integrated with the bone. On confirmation of Osseointegration (establishment of functional bond between implant and supporting bone) an abutment is fixed over the implant. We take impressions of nearby teeth and get a dental crown fabricated in the lab. The crown can be cemented or screwed over the abutment to complete the restoration procedure.