While parts of your smile remain hidden, other portions are highly visible, making the loss of a single tooth a serious problem. With dental implants, your dentist can fill the space so that when you speak or eat, no one will ever know the difference between your real and artificial teeth. Keep reading to discover how impactful these prosthetics can be, even when positioned toward the front of your smile.
What Kind of Problems Occur with Front Tooth Loss?
Many of the same complications that can occur when losing back teeth can also arise if you are without one or more front teeth. Bone loss, dental drift, difficulty chewing and eating, and low self-esteem are likely.
If you lose one of your front teeth, do not wait to see your dentist. Their evaluation and strategic plan to restore your smile with a dental implant will ensure results last a lifetime.
How Can a Dental Implant Replace a Front Tooth?
Replacing a front tooth with a dental implant is no different than treating a space located toward the back of your mouth.
The process begins with a consultation that you will schedule with your implant dentist. This will include a comprehensive evaluation of your smile, along with digital imaging to assess all aspects of your oral and facial structures.
On the day of your procedure, your dentist will use local anesthesia to numb your mouth before placing each titanium post into your jawbone to ensure its position and stability. Over 3-6 months, osseointegration will occur, allowing the implants to fuse with the bone. This will create a stable foundation for your new restoration, which will be positioned on top in the months ahead.
A metal abutment must then be added to help hold your crown in place. Only then, when your restoration is ready, will you return to the dentist’s office to have it secured onto your dental implant post.
Why Dental Implants Are Best
You can opt for a dental bridge or partial denture instead of a dental implant, but one reason so many dentists choose the latter is its lifelike appearance. Dental implants remain the closest thing to natural teeth because of their aesthetics, placement, and ability to fully support custom teeth.
In addition, they last much longer than other replacements. Dental implants can remain in place for 30+ years, while dentures and dental bridges need to be replaced after 7-10 years.
Your visible smile deserves a reliable tooth replacement solution, so don’t discount the chance to receive a custom dental implant if you need one.
About the Author
Dr. Stacy Dean earned her dental degree from the West Virginia Wesleyan University School of Dentistry before eventually opening Dean Dental. Completing numerous certifications and advanced training opportunities, she and her team are pleased to revitalize and rebuild smiles from the roots up. If you need help to replace a front tooth, contact us at (724) 222-2256 to schedule a consultation.