When a patient is facing or has endured tooth loss, the end of the conversation is not the appointment to remove the tooth. The end of the conversation needs to be to discuss how to replace a missing tooth. Often having a tooth extracted is a less expensive treatment in the short term, however there are several long term effects of a missing tooth. Firstly, the tooth that used to oppose the missing tooth now has nothing to chew against, so eating function is compromised. Secondly, that tooth also now has nothing to keep it in place and may start to grow out of the bone and gum tissue, a condition called super eruption. Super eruption can then lead to cleansing issues by exposing more of the root surfaces, which can lead to periodontal or “gum” disease around the tooth. And lastly, when a tooth is missing, there is nothing to hold the bone in place and that will start to create bone loss in the area of the missing tooth which can affect the surrounding teeth.
With all of these negative effects of tooth loss, it is extremely important to have the discussion with your dental provider about what to do when you’re faced with losing a tooth. Although there are options that many people are more familiar with, for example a fixed prosthetic called a bridge, or a removable prosthetic called a partial denture, these both have their limitations in that they also affect the surrounding teeth. Bridges are created by cutting down the teeth on either side of the missing tooth and bonding crowns to those teeth with a fake tooth adhered between them and supported by them. This takes away perfectly healthy tooth structure just to help replace a missing tooth. Partial dentures require clasps to hold them in place. These clasps can create pockets of gum tissue around the teeth the hold on to, they can harbor bacteria, and they also put unnecessary stress and force on the surrounding teeth. While these have been the go-to restorations of the past, dentistry is moving forward, always trying to perfect our methods and offer patients better, healthier options. This is why we now recommend dental implants as a solution to missing teeth.
A one-tooth solution for a one-tooth problem.
What is a dental implant? An implant is essentially a titanium or titanium post, which is placed in the bone where the missing tooth was.
Titanium is used because it is lightweight, strong and biocompatible. It osseointegrates, or fuses to the bone, which prevents bone loss and helps stabilize the bone and improve density. Titanium is the most widely used metal in dental and other types of bone implants (such as orthopedic implants), but above all, dental implants have the highest success rate.
After the titanium screw is placed, a healing period must occur to allow for osseointegration to occur, typically anywhere from 3-6 months. After the healing period has taken place, a fake tooth, or crown, is placed atop the implant. This fake tooth is the only portion of the implant that the patient can see. It restores chewing function, improves esthetics and allows for better cleansability of the area by keeping food particles out of the open space. Add to that the success rate of dental implants is approximately 95%, implants are clearly the number one choice of dentists when it comes to replacing a missing tooth.
If implants are the best option, why don’t more patients have them?
Many patients hear the word “implant” and instantly think it will be too expensive. This used to be the case. With insurance companies not helping with the bill, many patients faced the cost of implants completely out of pocket. However, most insurance companies are now offering their customers a discounted rate on implants and at times even paying a portion of the discounted fee. As dentistry progresses, so must the insurance companies who carry coverage of dental procedures for the vast majority of the population.
Another thing to consider is that once an implant is placed, it is typical that it will last a lifetime. Bridges are usually replaced after approximately 20 years, due to breakdown and their propensity to get cavities, and partial dentures must be replaced once their fit becomes compromised after bone loss occurs in the area of the missing tooth (not to mention the effect they have on surrounding teeth, which will then require restoration). While these options may seem more cost-effective at first, they can cost exponentially more in the long run.
For more information on implants, cost of implants, or to find out if you’re a candidate, schedule a consultation with your dental experts at JB Dental to discuss all the options available to you to help replace your missing teeth.
Paige Tscherpel, RDH, BSDH
Sources Consulted Include:
http://myoms.org/procedures/dental-implant-surgery