SINGLE TOOTH IMPLANT (Atlanta, GA)
If you have lost a tooth or have significant tooth decay that has weakened your tooth, you may be wondering what your options are. Our Atlanta cosmetic dentists often recommend that our patients with otherwise healthy mouths consider dental implants.
Today, dental implants are typically the most effective and long-lasting way to replace a single tooth. A dental implant actually consists of three pieces:
- The titanium post (the implant), which is inserted to replace the tooth root. The bone actually grows together with the titanium (known as osseointegration), forming a strong, stable base for your new tooth. Titanium is a very Bio-friendly metal.
- An abutment, which is sometimes white metal (called zirconia), gold, or even more titantium. This forms the the “crown” portion of the tooth
- The porcelain crown is the last part. This is cemented to the abutment.
BENEFITS OF AN IMPLANT
- Dental implants have one of the highest success rates in dentistry. Once it integrates with the bone, the implant rarely fails because of the osseointegration aspect.
- Because the implant replaces the root, the supporting bone remains strong and healthy.
- Unlike with a bridge, an implant requires no modification or drilling on adjacent teeth.
- While the crown might need to be replaced, the titanium implant itself should last a lifetime.
- An implant looks and functions just like a natural tooth. You can eat, brush, floss and talk normally.
If your dentist recommends a tooth replacement, it’s important that you follow through with this recommendation. Not only can missing teeth create an unstable bite and excessive wear and tear on your teeth and gums, but a missing root can lead to atrophy of the jawbone.
Our Atlanta dentists would be happy to review your case and discuss whether a dental implant is right for your situation.
