You can easily see what an unsightly gap a missing tooth leaves — but that’s really just the first sign of trouble ahead! Far more worrisome is the fact that tooth loss is generally followed by loss of bone in the jaw. This may lead to greater problems with the bite, and eventually, changes in facial appearance. When you need to replace a missing tooth, a dental implant is the premier option. Why?
Dental implants look and feel just like your natural teeth. More important, they don’t decay, are relatively free from gum disease, and can last a lifetime. But perhaps the best reason for choosing implants is that they help preserve the tooth-supporting bone structure that would otherwise begin to deteriorate after a tooth has been lost.
Most dental implants consist of two parts: a screw-shaped post made of titanium metal, which sits under the gum line, and a lifelike crown, custom-fabricated to match your own teeth. The post, which is implanted in a minor surgical procedure, will actually fuse with the underlying bone in your jaw. This occurs during a healing period of a few months, after which the crown is attached. The success rate for this procedure is over 95% — the highest of any tooth-replacement option!