How much do you know about tooth implants? Losing a tooth by accident or by extraction is not the end of the matter. When a tooth is missing, the gap it leaves will allow nearby teeth to tilt or drift from their normal position, and the teeth above the gap will move downward.

Aside from the obvious cosmetic problem, the changed positions of these teeth can lead to severe bite problems causing jaw pain and headaches. Missing teeth should be replaced to keep other teeth in their normal position. This can be done by means of a fixed dental bridge or a dental implant. Both of these treatments offer a good functional and cosmetic result.

Dental implants are a permanent solution to lost teeth. Rather than removable dentures, patients are given titanium tooth implants. Because of its ability to bond with bone, titanium is an ideal material for surgical implants. An artificial tooth is then placed over the implant. In the past several decades, teeth implants have exploded in popularity, offering a more natural tooth replacement than any other current dental technique.

In the 1960’s, it was discovered that bone will grow so close to a titanium implant that bone and implant essentially become one. As the body heals for approximately two to six months after the surgery, the bone around the tooth implant fuses to the implant through a process called osseointegration. After the healing phase is complete, the implants are used to anchor crowns, bridges, or dentures.

Traditionally, a dental surgeon, like an oral surgeon or a periodontist, performs the surgical component. A general dentist, or prosthodontist and laboratory technician performs the restorative component. However, as implant dentistry has become more sophisticated, sometimes a dentist who specializes in restorative dentistry conducts the entire procedure. More and more general dentists are also implant dentists.

Many general dentists are proud of the success they have had with dental implants. “I’ve been placing implants since 1984. I did an internship in implants. In twenty years, I have only ever lost one dental implant due to implant non-integration,” proclaimed a general dentist. Another dentist agreed, saying, “Most implants are well within the abilities of general dentists. The expertise comes in knowing which ones to refer out.”

So don’t let a missing tooth ruin your smile - not when implant dentistry can offer a permanent solution!