Dental Implants: Restoring Smiles with a Natural Look and Feel

When you have a missing tooth, it can have a profound effect on your self-esteem and tooth functionality. Besides affecting your smile, a missing tooth impacts how well you chew and speak. Moreover, if you don’t replace the tooth, bone loss can occur in your jaw, and your facial structure can change. Investing in dental implants is an investment in your long-term oral health.

Dental Implants: How They Work

Dental implants are a high-tech solution made with three components:

• Titanium screw: A screw is embedded directly into your jawbone, serving as the “root” for your new tooth. Over a few months, this screw will fuse with the jawbone in a process called osseointegration and become a permanent part of your jaw.  
• Abutment: A small metal abutment fits over the top of the screw as a foundation for the porcelain crown that will be your new tooth. 
• Porcelain crown: This is the part that shows above the gumline. The porcelain crown is custom-made to match beautifully with your natural teeth. 

Single Tooth Dental Implant

One dental implant replaces one missing tooth. A single-tooth implant is the perfect solution if you’re missing just one tooth. Replacing your missing tooth can help you avoid problems down the road. For example, a missing tooth can result in loss of bone in the jaw. Also, the neighboring teeth are at greater risk for decay, and gum disease complications can occur. 

Replacing Multiple Missing Teeth with Dental Implants

If you’re missing multiple teeth, you can use a dental implant as an anchor for a dental bridge. The All-on-X dental implant system involves using two or more dental implants on either side of a gap in your smile if you’re missing more than one tooth. The X refers to how many implants you need to support your bridge or dentures. This treatment gives you more stable teeth that don’t slip or slide when eating or speaking. 

Full-Mouth Dental Implants

You have two dental arches: Your top teeth and your bottom teeth. If all of your teeth need to be replaced, you will need either traditional dentures or implant-supported dentures to regain full functionality and smile restoration. Four or six dental implants can support a dental arch. Fixed full-arch implants are permanent and non-removable. This solution is perfect for patients who want as much natural functionality as possible. 

The Best Candidate for Dental Implants

If you’re missing one or more teeth, you’re already a candidate for dental implants. However, any dental issues you have, such as decay or gum disease, will need to be fixed before you can start the dental implant process. Also, people seeking dental implants need to have good jawbone mass. If you don’t have enough bone mass, the dentist will do a bone graft to prepare your jaw for the implants.

Your Options for Missing Teeth Solutions: Getting Dental Implants in San Diego, California

Are you ready to invest in restoring your smile? Drs. Julie and Joseph Boulos and the team at All Coast Dental in San Diego, California, are here to partner with you in getting your smile back to its natural, beautiful state. Call us today at (858) 264-3002 to set up your consultation or use our online form to schedule an appointment.