Single Tooth Replacement Options
There are two ways to replace a single missing tooth. A dental implant is the first choice and a bridge is the
second. Here’s a description of both.
A single tooth dental implant is a stand-alone replacement for both the root and crown of a missing tooth. The
actual implant is a small screw-like post made of titanium, which is a biocompatible metal. The post is
surgically embedded in your jaw to hold a crown restoration in place and to maintain jawbone health. To
implant the post, the dentist makes an incision in your gums and removes a small section of the bone. Then,
the post is secured in that spot. Your gums will heal in a couple of weeks, but the post and your jawbone will
need several months to bond. After this, the dental crown is attached to the post and the replacement tooth
will look and perform just like one of your natural teeth.
A fixed bridge is also called a crown and bridge. This oral device consists of one false tooth that rests
between two dental crowns. The crowns are secured over healthy teeth next to the gap in your smile, thereby
holding the false tooth in place. A bridge’s dental crowns and false tooth are made as a single unit, so
the dentist in Virginia Beach can place them at the same time. In addition to rebuilding your smile, a bridge
restores dental function and prevents adjacent teeth from shifting into the vacant space.
The Benefits of Dental Implants
Although both a fixed bridge and a dental implant will restore the form and function of your smile, implants
are unique in the benefits they offer.
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Dental implants do not impact adjacent teeth, but instead, stand alone in your jaw more like a natural tooth
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Implants stimulate healthy new bone tissue growth in your jaw, so you’ll never have that sunken
appearance that can occur with dentures
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Dental implants perform as well as natural teeth because they replace both a missing root and crown
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If you brush and floss your teeth and implant twice daily and attend regularly scheduled dental checkups,
you can look forward to your dental implants lasting for decades or even a lifetime
Contact Your Dentist Today!
If you have a single missing tooth, call your Virginia Beach dentist today. A dental implant will restore your
smile and provide added oral and general health benefits, too.
