Dental implants are a wonderful long-term solution to replace missing teeth. If left untreated, any gaps in your smile can result in several oral health issues, including shifting teeth and the deterioration of your jawbone. Because dental implants are such a wonderful solution, many patients come to Dental Implants & Periodontal Health of Rochester asking how many dental implants they can get at one time since some patients will have more than one missing tooth. Read on to learn more about procedures for replacing multiple missing teeth with dental implants.
The Benefits Of Dental Implants
At their most basic description, dental implants1 are titanium posts inserted into the jaw that support artificial teeth. Most patients prefer dental implants to other kinds of removable restoration work because they allow them to:
- Stop worrying about your artificial teeth shifting or slipping
- Eat and speak normally
- Your implant placement is customized for you, so your smile will always look natural.
- Dental implants can help prevent any bone loss from missing teeth and restore a normal facial appearance.
If you have one or more missing teeth and sufficient jawbone, you may be an excellent candidate for dental implants.
How Do Dental Implants Work?
There are actually several different situations in which periodontists use dental implants as a base for supporting artificial teeth.
If a patient is missing only one tooth, their periodontist will place a dental implant to support a single crown. This procedure involves removing the damaged tooth and prepping the jawbone for the implant. Then your periodontist will place the titanium post into the jaw bone. After a period of healing, the next step is to place the abutment that the crown attaches to into the titanium post. Lastly, your dentist will place the final crown, which looks like your other natural teeth. Over this entire procedure, the jaw bone will begin to grow into and around the implant in a process called osseointegration. This implant then acts as a permanent strong replacement tooth root.
Dental implants are also used to replace several missing teeth with bridges and dentures.2 Bridges are meant to fix a gap between missing teeth. Meanwhile, dentures can involve anywhere from four to eight implants to complete a full arch of teeth.
While these implants can be incredibly strong, whether you can get them and how many you can get depends on several factors that will be discussed next.
How Many Dental Implants Should You Get?
When considering how many dental implants a patient can get at once, it generally varies from patient to patient. If your jawbone is in excellent condition, you may be a good candidate for multiple dental implants as part of your treatment without having to have any additional procedures. Your periodontist will do a thorough examination to help you determine whether multiple dental implants are a good plan for you.
However, if you don’t have an adequate jawbone, the periodontist will discuss with you the option to augment your jawbone so you can have dental implants as a permanent solution.
The implant placement is usually a straightforward procedure requiring local anesthesia like in any other dental procedure.
Consult With Dental Implant Professionals Today
At the end of the day, dental implants are a FANTASTIC solution to missing teeth for many patients. They offer a strong, natural replacement to improve and correct bite and smile.
At Dental Implants & Periodontal Health of Rochester, Dr. Zahavi and Dr. Rappoport will evaluate your dental health and help you determine the best path towards restoring your oral wellness. Call our office today and schedule an appointment to learn if you’re a candidate for dental implants. 585-685-2005
Sources:
[1] https://www.perio.org/consumer/dental-implants
[2] https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/dental-health-dentures