Missing a tooth? Looking for treatment but aren’t sure what your options are?
Having a missing tooth seldom ever sends people rushing off to the dentist looking for treatment. They shrug it off and get on with things, leaving their oral health to slowly debilitate. As with any untreated problem—and tooth loss is a health problem—it can create further oral health issues. Most notably, it can cause gum disease and further tooth loss.
However
Losing one tooth does not automatically mean that all your teeth are going to fall out. It also does not mean that you are straight-up going to get gum disease. The cause of your tooth loss can also determine what happens next. Say, for example, that you lost a tooth because of gum disease: you’ve already got gum disease so your tooth loss isn’t going to cause gum disease. It might just exacerbate the problem.
Tooth loss causing further tooth loss is a little more complicated than: “oh, I’ve lost one tooth now all my teeth are going to fall out.” When you lose a tooth, the jawbone that holds the tooth root starts to dissolve. This does not grow back. If you wait too long between tooth loss and implant dentistry you may require a bone graft for the procedure to be successful.
Implant Dentistry
Replacing a missing tooth with a dental implant is—arguably—the best thing for your oral health. Implant dentistry involves surgically placing the dental implant (a biocompatible titanium screw) into your jaw. Once the jawbone heals around the implant, an implant crown is attached to the implant.
It can take up to six months for your jaw to heal around the dental implant. How long it takes your jaw to heal depends on a number of factors:
- Your oral health
- Your overall health
- Your body’s natural ability to heal
- Placement of the implant: upper jaw takes longer to heal than the bottom jaw
A cigarette
The most relevant issue with smoking and implant dentistry is your body’s natural ability to heal. It is generally recommended that if you are a smoker you cut back as it will negatively impact the healing time.
Your favourite foods
Unlike other forms of tooth replacement dentistry, implant dentistry allows you to eat all your favourite foods without worry about damaging the restoration. In fact, dental implants can—sometimes—provide better enjoyment of food.
Getting the treatment you need
If you are missing a tooth, or multiple teeth, visit Excellence In Dentistry. Our Brisbane-based dentists will work closely with you to provide you with the treatment you need. Dental implants are just one of the many dental treatments we offer. We also provide our patients with cosmetic dentistry such as teeth whitening and porcelain veneers.