Dr. Morey Furman offers quality, personalized dental care with an emphasis on cosmetics and the latest in materials and high-technology techniques and innovations. His practice, The Dental Office of Dr. Morey Furman, is located in Garden City, New York, and here, he talks about restoring missing teeth with implants.
Dental implants are virtually indistinguishable from other teeth. This appearance is aided in part by the structural and functional connection between the dental implant and the living bone. Implants are typically placed in a single sitting but require a period of time to anchor in the bone (osseointegration).
Dental implants can be used to restore missing teeth. They could replace a single tooth or every tooth in the mouth. Implants offer a permanent solution to tooth loss.
Wide Base of Candidates
Advancements in technique mean more people than ever are candidates for dental implants.When the bone has successfully grown around the dental implant following oral surgery, the restoration of the dental arch can begin. If a single tooth is lost it will be restored with an abutment and a crown.
The abutment is a metal connector which attaches the implant (supported in the bone) to the crown. The abutment is customized to fit in an individual’s mouth to allow natural placement and function of the crown. The crown is the same as a crown on a natural tooth and will look and feel like a natural tooth.
Replacing Multiple Teeth
If multiple teeth are missing, the patient’s dentition can be restored with bridges or even dentures. In these cases, multiple implants are required. A dental bridge is a restoration in which several crowns are all attached to one another.
The implant-supported bridge is similar to a regular dental bridge except that it is anchored to the implant instead of natural teeth. The restoration will match the size, shape and color of the surrounding teeth. In some cases, the dentist will attach a full set of dentures to the upper or lower jaw. These cases are also done with multiple implants to anchor the teeth.
Traditional Dentures
Traditional dentures are crafted from either a durable plastic or porcelain. After the prosthesis is fabricated and fitted for the mouth, the dentist will attach it to the abutments. This type of restoration can either be permanently fixed with screws or can be made removable (the patient can take them in and out to clean) in which they snap on to the abutments.
After the restorations have been placed, the implants and new teeth will look and feel great, and allow for normal and natural, chewing, speaking and smiling.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
