Implants

An excellent way to replace a missing tooth or teeth is with a dental implant. A dental implant is a small titanium cylinder that is surgically inserted into the bone of the jaw, fulfilling the role of the root for the missing tooth. An artificial tooth is attached to the implant. Placing a dental implant after a tooth has been lost can prevent problems that can affect your entire mouth.

• Teeth need other teeth for support, so if a tooth or teeth are lost, the countering teeth will shift into the empty space. This could lead to future tooth loss.
• The shifting of teeth creates new areas of problem spots to clean. This can lead to periodontal disease and bone loss, which can lead to tooth loss.
  

Another way to prevent shifting of teeth after a tooth is lost is with a bridge. The two main advantages an implant has over a bridge is:

1. The teeth adjacent to the space do not have to be touched, thus preserving good tooth structure.
2. Since the implant acts like the root of a tooth, it can stop the ongoing bone loss after extraction. The bone will now support the implant and will not be lost since it is serving a purpose.