Single Implants
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What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants in Silver Spring, MD, are small threaded titanium posts inserted into your jaw and are used to replace missing teeth. Dental implants replace singular teeth, a set of teeth, or an entire arch of teeth. They can also be used to anchor dentures, bridges, and crowns.
What Is a Single Dental Implant?
A single dental implant is an implant that is only replacing one missing tooth. A single dental implant is great for people with otherwise healthy teeth and gums but just need to replace one missing tooth.
You should never not replace a missing tooth. Missing teeth leave gaps that cause your other teeth to shift, resulting in many other dental issues that must be corrected.
The Dental Implant Process
Your dentist in Silver Spring, MD, will begin by giving you a local anesthetic. Next, the dentist will extract your tooth and its roots.
Then, your dentist will make a small incision in your gum to expose the jawbone.
A small hole will be drilled into the bone.
A titanium implant will then be placed into the hole drilled into your jawbone. However, you will still be left with a gap where your tooth once was.
You will receive a temporary denture or bridge while you wait for the bone to fuse with the titanium implant. This will usually take somewhere between three to six months or so. Your temporary denture or bridge will provide you with the ability to chew. However, you will still need to be mindful of what you eat on the side of your mouth that is housing the temporary denture.
Once the bone has fused to your implant, this is called osseointegration; your dentist will remove the temporary denture or bridge and add what’s called an abutment. The abutment will be screwed into the top of your new implant.
You will then be given a temporary crown. The purpose of the temporary crown is to allow time for your gums to finish healing around the abutment.
The final step in your single dental implant treatment is for your dentist to add your new artificial tooth (crown) to the abutment. It will then be adjusted until it fits properly and feels comfortable.
That’s it! You’re done!
After Your Single Dental Implant Treatment
Now that you have completed all the steps in the dental implant process, you can treat your new tooth just like you do your natural teeth. You can eat and drink anything you like. There are no dietary restrictions. You can also brush and floss like normal. Just remember that it’s extremely important to have a good oral hygiene routine if you want to keep your teeth, gums, and the new implant area healthy.
The Benefits of Getting a Single Dental Implant
There are plenty of reasons to consider getting a single dental implant if you have a missing, damaged, or decayed tooth. Let’s take a look.
- It will restore your ability to chew your food.
- It will provide you with a beautiful smile versus a smile that exposes a missing tooth.
- It will help prevent bone loss. Dental implants replace a missing tooth and its root. This will keep your jawbone from shrinking.
- It will help keep your surrounding teeth, jawbone, and gums healthy.
- It will keep your surrounding teeth stable because they won’t be able to drift into an empty space left by a missing tooth.
How Long Will a Single Dental Implant Last?
A single dental implant can last a lifetime if cared for properly. This timeframe refers to the implant itself. The artificial tooth (crown) portion of your implant will probably need to be replaced in about 15-20 years or so.
Contact Pure Dental Care – A Reputable Dentist in Silver Spring, MD
Are you ready to enhance your smile? Please Contact Pure Dental Care today to schedule a consultation. We would love to show you just how easy and affordable getting a dental implant can be!
