One Missing Tooth

Our team provides dental implant procedures to replace one missing tooth with a single dental implant in each one of our four Colorado locations. Replacing a missing tooth with a dental implant is in most cases a lifetime solution.

Don’t Ignore a Missing Tooth!

Once a patient faces losing a front tooth, the immediate answer is to replace it, especially if it is a front tooth. But what happens, when you lose a tooth that is not visible when you smile? The tendency is generally to ignore it.

However, any missing tooth can have a negative impact on your quality of life, as well as dental and oral health. When we chew, a healthy tooth strengthens the quality of the bone; similar to how exercise protects us against muscle loss. When a tooth is missing, healthy teeth tend to shift position towards the gap due to bone loss, affecting how our upper and lower teeth meet.

This may affect how we place pressure on the teeth when chewing, and have an impact on surrounding muscles and joints, resulting in pain and various other symptoms such as headaches or migraines. Hence, each tooth plays an important role in ensuring that teeth in front of and behind it stay in alignment, and maintaining the health of the jaw bone.

Benefits of an All-Ceramic Dental Crown on a Tooth Implant

When a single tooth is missing or both the root and the tooth are damaged, a tooth implant capped by a porcelain crown is the best permanent replacement available. Because of the strength of the dental implant and the beauty of the porcelain crown, this solution both looks and functions just like a natural tooth.

In this case, a so-called one-piece dental implant is used. This means that all components are installed as a single unit, resulting in immediately full functioning teeth, shorter treatment time, and minimized pain.

With a one-piece tooth implant, you receive

• Immediately functioning teeth
• An excellent aesthetic result
• A life-long, stable solution

This dental implant procedure normally includes four visits. You should expect to be able to work the day after having the dental implant installed.

Single Tooth Replacement Dental Implant Procedure

Each patient is unique and will receive a course of treatment designed specifically for their situation. What we describe here is one of several options available and can be generally explained. Through an initial complimentary consultation with a dental implant dentist, we can better determine and explain the implant procedure that is specific to you.

1. Before the dental implant procedure: One of our dental implant dentists will examine your mouth and will take one or more x-rays of the area. This will help him determine the optimal placement of the tooth implant and prepare for the dental implant procedure.
2. Installing the tooth implant:  At this time, a temporary tooth is provided that allows you to eat and function normally almost immediately. Your new dental implant will need a few months to heal and integrate with the jawbone before the permanent porcelain crown can be attached.
3. Attaching the new crown: The final step in the dental implant procedure is the placement of the permanent ceramic tooth onto the tooth implant. The new tooth is installed for life. No additional treatment is needed.
4. End-result: Once your permanent crown is placed on the dental implant, you should expect the new tooth to fit, look and function just like a natural tooth. Your regular dental hygiene routine should be sufficient to keep the tooth and gum around it clean. You can expect to enjoy your new tooth for decades to come!

Alternatives to a Dental Crown on a Tooth Implant

• Tooth-supported fixed dental bridge: A traditional dental bridge involves grinding down adjacent teeth to support the bridge. It is a stable solution that looks good, functions well, and is fairly easy to install. However, this alternative has two main disadvantages: the jaw bone will continue to shrink in the area without the tooth and the two healthy teeth on either side of the dental bridge must be sacrificed to act as supports for the bridge. Using a tooth implant avoids these two disadvantages.
• Removable partial denture: Having a removable partial denture is not a permanent alternative to a missing tooth. A removable partial denture is made of plastic – a material that can’t create the same aesthetic result as a ceramic crown. It is unstable and loosely attached, which affects both function and comfort. The jaw bone will still recede where the tooth is missing as nothing is stimulating its growth. The only benefits to a partial denture are that the adjacent teeth aren’t affected, it is easily and quickly installed and it is relatively cheap compared to a tooth implant.
• Resin-bonded dental bridge: A resin-bonded dental bridge as an alternative to a tooth implant has some clear advantages: it is quickly installed, functions well and, since it is made of ceramic, it gives a high aesthetic result. Moreover, natural healthy teeth aren’t affected. But the downside is that it is not permanent. The resin-bonded bridge will eventually come off – probably after just a couple of years – and will then have to be reinstalled.

Schedule a Free Implant Consultation

Modern dental implant technology can restore your quality of life with teeth that are strong and that look and feel natural. If you live or work in the Denver metro area and are missing a tooth, a tooth implant may be the solution for you. Schedule a free dental implant consultation by filling out our website form or giving us a call at (303) 451-1111. Click here for information on financing your dental implant procedure.