Tooth loss, even cases with only a single missing tooth, requires prosthodontic attention. Otherwise, you could risk further tooth loss and an older appearance due to weakened jawbone structure. In today’s blog, your Prairie Village, KS, prosthodontist talks about addressing your tooth loss with dental implants.
The Dangers of Missing Teeth
Losing your natural teeth could mean serious trouble for your smile. First, the gaps left behind could impact how you eat and even limit clear speech. You could feel embarrassed about your appearance, which also leads to issues with your self-confidence. Missing teeth also allows surrounding teeth to drift from position, which means misalignment and with it, an increased risk of issues like tooth decay and gum disease. But that’s not all! Tooth loss strains your jaw joints so TMJ disorder and bruxism (teeth grinding) are more likely. Your jaw could also lose mass and density, which means further tooth loss and an older appearance. But with dental implants, your prosthetics can help you avoid these complications.
Securing Your New Teeth
To get started, our team will carefully examine your smile with advanced imaging technology, so we can assess the strength of your jawbone and choose the best angle and position to insert your new dental implant posts. We will numb the area and offer sedation to ensure you’re comfortable as we guide these posts surgically into your jaw. The dental implant posts are made from tina, which is biocompatible and bonds with your jaw. As a result, these posts can stay in place for years to come. When we have them in place, we can move forward with the visible portion of your new tooth or teeth.
Restorations and Prosthetics
For an individual missing tooth, our team can attach a crown to the post with an abutment. The crown is custom-made to look natural and blend with your smile, while also offering a durable chewing surface. If you have more advanced cases of tooth loss, then multiple posts could support a bridge or even a fixed set of dentures, with prosthetics that last far longer than traditional bridges or removable dentures. A visit now means you can start this process and use your 2023 dental benefits or remaining health savings account funds before they expire at the end of December. If you have any questions about how we treat missing teeth with lifelike and durable dental implants, then contact our team today to learn more.
Do You Have Missing Teeth?
Our team wants to help you smile with confidence again by addressing your tooth loss with prosthodontic care. To learn more about replacing your missing teeth, then give a call to your Overland Park and Prairie Village, KS prosthodontist, Dr. Stuart Dexter, DDS at (913)362-8200 and schedule an appointment.