Tooth loss is a significant issue that can be caused by some different issues. The most common cause of tooth loss is gum disease. As this condition progresses, bacteria fall below your gum line, where they begin attacking your periodontal ligaments and your jawbone. As these supporting structures weaken, your teeth become unstable. You may also lose teeth as a result of facial trauma or severe tooth decay. Losing multiple teeth can significantly impact your abilities to eat, speak, and smile with confidence. Additionally, tooth loss leads to bone loss in your jaw, which affects the shape of your jaw and your facial aesthetics. At Elmwood Dental, we can work with an oral surgeon to replace and restore multiple teeth with dental implants.Dental Implants for Tooth Replacement
Dental implants are a modern treatment for replacing missing teeth. They can be used to replace any number of missing teeth, whether you have lost just one or you have lost several. Implants consist of three components.
| • | Posts. The posts are the actual implants. Made from titanium, these posts are surgically placed into your jawbone. Your bone then gradually fuses to the posts, a process known as osseointegration. This fusion turns the posts into strong, stable roots that hold your dental restorations securely in place. |
| • | Abutments. The abutments are the connectors that are placed on the ends of the implant posts. Abutments provide stability for your restorations. |
| • | Restorations. The restorations are the actual replacement teeth. They are ceramic crowns. Ceramic provides a completely natural result. It can be colored to match the exact color of your natural teeth and reflects light in a similar manner. The implant crown is then cemented onto the implant. |
Why Get Dental Implants?
There are several reasons why dental implants are an ideal solution for replacing multiple teeth. Benefits of dental implants include:
| • | They look exactly like your real teeth. With your smile perfectly restored, your confidence soars. |
| • | They feel and function just like real teeth. You can eat and speak properly again. Additionally, your digestion and oral health improve. |
| • | They are incredibly comfortable. Your teeth are supported by the titanium posts and your jawbone, rather than your gums or your adjacent teeth. |
| • | You can brush and floss your new teeth just like your natural teeth. |
| • | The posts are stable within your jaw, which helps to hold your restorations securely in place. You do not need to worry about them slipping out of place or falling out. |
| • | They provide a long-term, even permanent, solution to tooth loss. |
| • | The posts stimulate your jawbone just like the roots of your natural teeth, providing you with a unique benefit that no other replacement option can provide. |
Multiple Teeth Replacement
Replacing multiple teeth with dental implants requires a surgical procedure and you will be referred to an oral surgeon. Before beginning surgery, you are provided with a local anesthetic. Sedation may also be provided if you are feeling anxious. The surgery begins with small incisions in your gum tissue, which provides access to your jawbone. Next, the surgeon will drill holes into your jawbone and place the implant posts directly inside. The exact number of implants we place depends on how many teeth are being replaced and the condition of your jawbone. If you do not have enough bone mass in your jaw to successfully support the implant posts, a bone graft may need to be performed first.
Once the implants are in your jaw, the surgeon will suture your gums closed around the posts and placed temporary teeth. We then you will be provided with aftercare instructions, which will help you to recover properly. These instructions will help you to deal with issues such as pain and swelling as well as instruct you on what to eat and how to care for your mouth.
Once you have fully healed, we begin the process of placing your final restorations. First, the temporary teeth are removed. Abutments are placed, and impressions are taken. The impressions are sent to our lab, where they are used to create your final restorations. When they are finished, we check them for fit and bite and secure them into place with small screws.
Replacing several missing teeth with dental implants not only restores your smile. It restores the functions of your missing teeth as well as protects the integrity of your jawbone. If you are missing multiple teeth, call Elmwood Dental at (833) 432-1457 today to find out if dental implants are the right choice for you.