Ignoring even a single missing tooth is harmful to your oral health. A gap in your smile can lead to teeth shifting, bite problems, difficulty biting and chewing food, and embarrassment. We will suggest a single dental implant, as this solution is the best option for health and aesthetic purposes. We can replace your missing tooth with an implant-supported crown in Columbia, MD.
Why Should I Replace a Lost Tooth?
At first glance, losing a single tooth might not appear serious. But leaving that gap empty can lead to multiple problems that get worse over time.
When a tooth goes missing, your jawbone begins to weaken and shrink because it’s no longer being stimulated. This bone loss can change your facial shape. Jaw bone loss can make you look older than you are with a sunken appearance around your mouth.
The teeth beside the gap can drift into the open space. This movement creates crooked teeth and messes up your bite, which then makes proper cleaning difficult and leads to more cavities and gum disease.
Eating becomes more challenging, too, especially with back teeth missing. You might start avoiding crunchy fruits or chewy meats, which means missing out on important nutrients. Poor chewing can even lead to digestive issues over time. Don’t forget that teeth play a key role in speech. Missing a front tooth can cause whistling sounds or make certain words harder to pronounce clearly.
The longer you wait, the worse these problems become and the more expensive they are to fix. What might cost a few hundred dollars to address today could turn into thousands of dollars worth of dental work later.
The good news? We can replace a single tooth with a dental implant.
What is an Implant-Supported Crown?
The best dental restoration to replace a tooth is an implant-supported crown. It is made up of three parts that help it function like a natural tooth. A single dental implant is the first piece, and it must be surgically inserted into the jaw bone. The dental implant will act as a replacement tooth root and support a dental crown.
The next part is called an abutment. This is a small piece that connects the implant to the dental crown. The last part is the dental crown. A dental crown is custom-made to resemble a natural tooth. We will create your crown to match the color, shape, and size of your surrounding teeth.
How does a Dental Crown Attach to a Dental Implant?
We can secure your custom dental crown to the dental implant in two ways. Our office can use cement or screws.
Cement-Retained Implant Crowns
A cement-retained implant crown provides good aesthetic results. It offers an easy and less time-consuming way to secure a dental crown. This crown requires less vertical space, which is beneficial to patients who have little space between their teeth or who have high lip lines. It also offers a lot of flexibility when placing the crown around adjacent teeth.
There is a significant disadvantage to cementing the crown to the dental implant. It is very difficult to remove once it is in place. If, for some reason, you need to remove the crown to reach the implant or abutment, it will be very difficult to reach them. Another downside is the presence of cement remnants. There is a small chance that small pieces of cement will be left behind, which can lead to gum irritation and even an infection.
Screw-Retained Dental Crowns
A screw-retained dental crown offers the most secure fit. The dentist will secure the crown to the abutment using a small screw. He can easily remove and replace the crown in case the implant or abutment needs to be accessed. It also offers a very predictable and precise fit. The crown will never become dislodged, making it the most durable, long-term solution. They are also easier to care for compared to dental crowns that are cemented to the dental implants.
However, the dental crown will have a small hole where the screw must go. This can create some aesthetic issues. The crown requires a lot of customization because the hole must be precise and there is little space to access the screw hole. A screw retained dental crown requires more vertical space due to the screw hole, and for some patients, this is not feasible. For these reasons, the placement of this type of crown can be complicated and time-consuming. The alignment must be perfect, or it will affect your bite.
Implant-Supported Crown vs. Dental Bridge
There are many benefits to choosing an implant-supported crown over a dental bridge. A dental bridge relies on the adjacent teeth for support. We will need to permanently reduce the size of these anchor teeth to accommodate the bridge. They will also endure extra stress. An implant-supported crown does not rely on adjacent teeth for support. Your natural, remaining teeth will remain intact.
Also, a dental bridge does not replace the tooth at the root. Replacing the tooth root is important for preserving the jaw bone and preventing bone loss in the jaw. The dental implant will act as a replacement tooth root to help regenerate the jaw bone and prevent bone loss.
However, an implant-supported dental bridge is more expensive because it requires surgery and sophisticated materials. It also takes several months to complete the process. We can place an affordable dental bridge in two visits.
Replace a Missing Tooth Today
Book a consultation today if you want to replace your tooth with a single dental implant. We offer implant-supported crowns in Columbia, MD because they are the number one solution to replace a missing tooth. To schedule your visit, call (410) 415-9013. You can also request an appointment with Dr. Becker online.
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