Dental implants, as recommended by your prosthodontist, are an excellent solution for patients that are missing a tooth or several teeth. Here are 3 frequently asked questions for patients considering dental implants:
WHY CONSIDER IMPLANTS TO REPLACE A MISSING TOOTH OR TEETH?
Once the dental implant has been placed, bone loss from that area is virtually halted in most cases. If a dental implant can support a replacement crown, there may be no need to prepare and restore the adjacent teeth to carry a replacement bridge of the missing tooth. Further, if a dental implant can support a replacement crown(s), no denture may be required. The sooner that a dental implant can be placed, the better the chance that bone and soft tissue loss will not compromise the appearance of the replacement tooth/crown.
DO I NEED TO HAVE ONE IMPLANT PLACED FOR EVERY TOOTH THAT I HAVE LOST?
The number of dental implants required will depend upon the number of teeth to be replaced, the amount of bone remaining, and the loads that the replacement teeth will be required to accept.
IF I HAVE LOST, OR WILL LOSE ALL OF MY TEETH, HOW MANY IMPLANTS WILL I NEED?
The answer to this question depends upon the type of restoration of the missing teeth that is selected. The range in number is from one to several, and differs according to whether the restoration will be placed in the upper or lower jaw. The upper jaw has a significantly weaker structure than the lower jaw. More dental implants are required to support a fixed restoration than are required to stabilize a removable denture restoration of the teeth. If pressed, many prosthodontists would wish there to be a minimum of four implants supporting a fixed lower restoration, and a minimum of six supporting an upper fixed restoration. These guidelines are approximate and must be tailored to each individual according to the circumstances.
If you would like more information about dental implants, or would like to book an appointment with a prosthodontist to discuss your individual needs, please contact us and we will be more then happy to give you a more detailed explanation.
This article answers frequently asked questions about prosthodontists and dental implants.