Replacing a Single Tooth with a Dental Implant

Since they became a part of clinical dental health care, dental implants have become an essential resource for rebuilding patients’ smiles after having suffered tooth loss. For patients who’ve lost a significant amount of teeth, implants are well-known for their ability to preserve the health and integrity of their jawbones. However, even if you’ve only lost a single tooth, a dental implant can offer the same benefits to your smile that they do for patients with more severe tooth loss. In fact, with the help of a dental implant, your replacement crown can also help you reduce your risks of losing more teeth in the future.

How an Implant Crown Works

A dental implant is a small post that your dentist can insert into your jawbone after you’ve lost a tooth. The implant post replaces the root of your lost tooth, and can be utilized to support your crown the same way a root supports a healthy, natural tooth. As your jaw heals, it fuses to the implant post, which gives the post the stability of being a permanent part of your jawbone.

The Benefits Over a Dental Bridge

Before dental implants became a popular tooth replacement option, patients with single tooth loss often relied on dental bridges to rebuild their smiles. A bridge consists of the replacement tooth and dental crown on either side, which are bonded to the healthy teeth next to the gap in your smile. Together, a dental implant and crown create a highly lifelike replica of your entire tooth’s structure, including its root and crown. This gives your replacement tooth the ability to stand on its own, without the help of modified abutment teeth.

Find Out if an Implant and Crown Can Help You

If you’ve lost a single tooth, then find out if a dental implant and crown are your best option for replacing it. To learn more, schedule an appointment by calling the Sunny Smiles dental office nearest you in El Paso, TX, today! We have offices in the East, Northeast, and Westside of El Paso, and happily welcome patients from all nearby communities, including Chaparral, Canutillo, Vinton, and Sunland Park, New Mexico.