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.

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.