Single Tooth Implant

Benefits of Single Tooth Dental Implants

Dental implant procedures are often performed to replace multiple teeth. It’s not unusual and just as effective, however, to replace a single tooth. Whether you’ve lost that tooth due to disease, injury or decay, an implant may perform better than a dental bridge, especially if the lost tooth is located near the front of your mouth.

Working to replace just one tooth often lends itself to an implant procedure. When you rely on Dr. Victoria Kushensky at Hutchinson Metro Dental in Bronx, NY in Bronx, NY, some of the benefits of a single tooth implant include:

• No adjacent healthy teeth require reshaping, as is the case with dental bridges
• Strong, secure support for the abutment and crown
• A natural look and feel of your new tooth
• Preservation of your natural face shape
• Ensuring that you have sufficient jawbone density
• Customization of the crown look, length and shape to match your existing teeth

The Parts and Process of a Single Tooth Implant

A single tooth implant consists of three distinct pieces:

1. The implant itself is also called a screw, post or fixture. Usually made of titanium, this is the part of the implant that’s placed below the gum line while you’re under general or local anesthesia. After removing the rest of the remaining damaged tooth and root, Dr. Victoria Kushensky, an expert family implant dentist, drills a small hole into your jawbone to seat the screw.
2. The abutment sits just above the gum line. Dr. Kushensky screws the abutment into the fixture. It’s made of strong material, such as metal. This is the connector between the implant and the crown or top piece. Occasionally, the fixture and the abutment are one piece, which helps reduce the number of sessions needed to achieve the perfect replacement tooth.
3. The dental prosthesis or crown is made of composite resin, porcelain fused to metal, zirconia or pure porcelain. The crown is custom-made to your mouth’s size and the surrounding tooth color for a natural-looking replacement. Dr. Kushensky attaches the crown to the abutment with dental cement, snap-on socket or a screw. Once fixed, it’s permanent.

The Requirements for a Single Tooth Implant

Dr. Victoria Kushensky, your experienced Bronx, NY implant dentist at Hutchinson Metro Dental, examines your teeth. He checks to ensure that you have a sufficient amount of bone density to support a single tooth implant. If you’ve lost the tooth due to injury or decay, you don’t normally have a significant loss of bone.

If, however, your single tooth loss occurred due to periodontal disease or if you lost the tooth many years before, you may need other procedures to restore your bone density. These procedures include a bone graft, augmentation or sinus lift. Enough bone support gives your implant the best chance of success.

Your Single Tooth Implant Procedure

Your Bronx, NY family cosmetic and implant dentist takes a medical history to assess your eligibility for a single tooth implant. Discuss any osteoporosis or diabetes diagnoses you’ve received. Dr. Victoria Kushensky then conducts a thorough oral exam to check the health of your surrounding teeth and gums. Since your gums need to rebound and grow around the base of the crown, they have to be in the best health possible.

Next, Dr. Kushensky takes images of your mouth, often through 3D imaging options such as a CT scan or a 3D cone beam scan. These images provide the best picture of the density of your jawbone at the location that the fixture will be held in place. If your jawbone is strong enough, the procedure occurs in one day with placement of the fixture and abutment. You may receive a temporary crown while you heal and the permanent crown is made. You return for the permanent prosthesis in several weeks.

If you don’t have sufficient bone or stability for the single tooth implant, your Bronx family implant dentist may suggest placing the fixture and closing the gums with sutures for two to six months, allowing the bone to heal and grow around the screw. When you return, your dentist reopens the gum and adds the abutment and crown.

Caring for Your Single Tooth Implant

Keeping your mouth as clean as possible after your procedure helps prevent complications. Once the implant has been fixed with a permanent crown, you need to maintain proper dental hygiene, including brushing, flossing and maintaining your regular dentist checkups. When you seek a single tooth implant from a prominent Bronx, NY dentist who’s well-trained and experienced with implants, you avoid complications.

The technology used for single tooth implants is improving every year. The procedure provides a natural, secure option for replacing one missing tooth. Filling in the gap from a missing tooth allows you to eat all your favorite foods and beverages. You develop a strong jawbone, fewer dental problems in the future and more confidence in your smile. If you have a missing tooth that causes embarrassment or difficulty eating and speaking properly, contact Hutchinson Metro Dental in Bronx, NY in Bronx, NY for one-day solutions.