The loss of even a single tooth can have a tremendous impact on your health and your self-confidence. Just like a string of pearls, every single tooth is an important part of your complete smile. There are various options for replacing a missing tooth. The appropriate tooth replacement choice depends largely on your specific needs, but many patients are finding that dental implants are the best choice under most circumstances.
Patients who have chosen dental implants in London Ontario have found that implants are barely indistinguishable from their natural teeth. The advances in implant dentistry have been outstanding, and today’s dental implants are customized to look and function just like natural teeth.
Dental implants are mainly composed of a high-grade titanium post and a dental crown, which work together to replace both the missing tooth root and the biting surface. Once in place, the implant tooth becomes permanently integrated with the jaw bone. Your new tooth is strong enough for normal biting and chewing, as fully supported by the jawbone. This relationship between the implant and the bone allows your replacement tooth to be completely independent, not relying on the adjacent teeth for support.
There are other tooth replacement options which can replace the space left by your missing tooth, although there are some inherent disadvantages. Dental bridges can be a suitable solution, but tend to be far more aggressive than dental implants. Dental bridges must be anchored to at least two other natural teeth for proper support. This requires that your dentist modify the enamel on two healthy teeth in order to create a foundation for the bridge. This design increases the amount of stress on these two teeth during biting and chewing.
A removable partial denture is another option for replacing a missing tooth. This appliance, made of metal and acrylic, is designed to span the width of the entire mouth and clasp onto multiple natural teeth. The partial often rests on the gum tissue, roof of the mouth, or floor of the mouth for support. Most patients find this solution to too large and cumbersome for replacing only a single tooth.
Call Agathos Dentistry and schedule your appointment today to find out if implant dentistry is the right choice for your tooth replacement needs.