When you lose a tooth, or suffer the loss of several teeth, this could impact your oral health and even your overall quality of life. Which is why we recommend addressing your tooth loss with implant dentistry. In today’s blog, your Santa Rosa , CA, oral surgeons talk about dental implant placement.
When You Need Replacement Teeth
Losing even one tooth could mean serious trouble for your oral health, which is why we recommend seeking tooth replacement right away. Missing teeth could be caused by injury, advanced decay or infection, or as is the case in most situations, the periodontitis stage of gum disease. The gap could allow teeth to drift from position, which causes misalignment and with it, a higher risk of tooth decay and gum disease. The changes to bite balance could mean a greater risk of TMJ disorder and bruxism (teeth grinding). As the tooth loss increases in severity, this could mean issues eating your favorite foods or even trouble speaking clearly. Not to mention the older appearance brought on by the gradual breakdown of jaw structure. But with dental implants, we can prevent these complications from occurring!
Planning Your Placement Process
To begin, our team will carefully examine your smile with digital x-rays and CBCT technology, so we can identify the causes of your tooth loss and assess the severity. Our team can also make sure your jawbone is strong enough to support dental implants, and doesn’t need grafting or a sinus lift first.
Securing Your New Teeth
Our team will use digital technology to guide the implant post, made from biocompatible titanium, into the jawbone. Once in place, they bond with the jaw through a process known as osseointegration. We will use sedation and anesthesia to ensure your comfort during the placement process. Once these are in place, when the area heals, we will connect an abutment to the post so we can attach a crown to complete your new tooth. If you have multiple missing teeth, our team can place several posts to support a bridge, partial, or full set of dentures. With All-On-Four, we can secure fixed dentures in one visit, so you leave with a complete smile.
If you have any questions about tooth loss or about restoring your smile with implant dentistry, then please reach out to our team today to learn more. We want to help you smile with confidence and enjoy your best smile, and avoid the complications of missing teeth.
Schedule a Visit for a New Smile
Our team wants to help you maintain strong and healthy smiles for years to come! If you would like to learn more about addressing your missing teeth, then contact your Santa Rosa, CA, oral surgeons by calling (707)545-4625.
