If you have a gap in your smile due to a missing tooth, then you need a prosthetic. Even a single missing tooth could mean major oral health issues for your smile. In order to offer patients in Astoria, NY, a lifelike and durable solution to tooth loss, we often prescribe a dental implant. Why should you consider a dental implant to address your missing teeth?
Have You Lost a Tooth?
What happens when we lose a tooth? First, you have a gap in your smile. For some, this is a major source of embarrassment and may impact social interactions. Others may find eating becomes more difficult. Over time, the space in your smile could cause surrounding teeth to drift, leading to misalignment. The body, recognizing a missing tooth root, also stops supplying the jawbone with key nutrients. Soon, the bone tissue around the missing tooth deteriorates, leading to further tooth loss and an aged appearance in extreme cases. If you have lost a tooth, even if it’s just one, please let us know!
Placing Your Replacement Tooth
Dental implants don’t need crowns to stay in place like a bridge, and don’t rely on metal clasps or suction like dentures. Instead, we insert them into the jawbone. Since they will be made from titanium, a biocompatible material, they actually bond with the jawbone through a process known as osseointegration. Acting as new tooth roots, they stimulate the growth of jawbone tissue and prevent the loss of density. After the area heals, which will require between three and four months, we add a custom-made restoration. The restoration is typically a dental crown added to the implant with an abutment, designed to address the visible portion of your new tooth and blend seamlessly with your smile.
The Benefits
Since dental implants prevent the loss of jawbone density, that means preserving your facial structure and enabling your new teeth to last much longer than traditional dentures or bridges. In fact, with proper care and attention they may last decades. Not to mention their lifelike appearance and stability, which allows patients to resume eating their favorite foods with smile with confidence. We even employ implant dentistry to help those with severe tooth loss, placing multiple ones to secure a bridge or denture that is fixed, long-lasting, and natural looking. If you have any questions about replacing missing teeth with lifelike dental implants, then please contact our team today. Once more, you have the opportunity to enjoy a whole and beautiful smile!
Do You Have Missing Teeth?
We want to address the gaps in your smile with our lifelike tooth replacement options. For more information on implant dentistry, schedule a consultation with us by calling Jeffrey Leibowitz, DDS, in Astoria, NY, today at 718-728-8320.
