Missing teeth do more than cause embarrassing gaps in your smile; they can also affect your ability to speak or chew nutritious food with ease. Other consequences can also develop over time. For one thing, by not replacing missing teeth, the adjacent ones can ever-so-slowly drift into the unoccupied space. This drift can alter your bite, further compromising your oral health and the function of your smile.
The history of dental implants is rich and spans the millennia. With the earliest attempts dating back to ancient civilizations, it wasn't until the mid-20th century that modern dental implants began to offer an appealing alternative to traditional fixed bridges and partial or complete dentures for replacing multiple missing teeth. Today, thanks to advances in technology and care, dental implants now represent the most advanced method for replacing multiple missing teeth and rebuilding a complete, beautiful smile.
The most lifelike of all the options for replacing missing teeth, dental implants, unlike removable dentures, have no need for unattractive clasps or messy denture adhesives to keep them stable and secure. They are also far kinder to the surrounding tissues and easier to clean and maintain than traditional bridges or removable dentures.
Dental implants offer versatile solutions for replacing multiple missing teeth, including:
In contrast to a traditional fixed bridge, an implant-supported bridge preserves the integrity of the adjacent teeth and effectively halts the bone resorption process that naturally occurs when teeth are lost. By maintaining the bone in the edentulous areas (the space without teeth), normal facial contours can be adequately supported, to avoid the appearance of a sagging or caved-in look. Additionally, as they are permanently anchored in the jawbone, implant-supported bridges fully restore one's natural biting and chewing capacity.
When all the teeth in the upper or lower jaw are missing, dental implants provide a comfortable, stable, and cosmetically pleasing solution to restore a functional smile. An implant-anchored overdenture is essentially a removable denture that clips onto either a ball or bar attachment in the front part of the jaw. The implant-supported attachments provide added stability to the denture, keeping it in place and ensuring optimal comfort as well as function. Because the dental implants keep the denture from slipping or dislodging, there is no need to deal with any messy denture adhesives.
As an alternative to full dentures, a full arch fixed bridge anchored to multiple dental implants can provide a permanent solution in situations where all the teeth are missing or have been deemed non-restorable and require replacement. A full-arch fixed bridge anchored to dental implants is a highly stable and cosmetically pleasing solution that allows you to eat and function as you would with a complete set of natural teeth.
With proper care, dental implants can last a lifetime, making them a highly durable option for replacing multiple teeth.
The procedure is performed under local anesthesia to ensure you are comfortable. After the procedure, you may experience some swelling or discomfort, but this can be managed with pain medications.
The healing time varies, but osseointegration (the process where the implant fuses to the bone) typically takes several months. After that, the final restorations will be placed.
Dental implants offer improved stability, comfort, and functionality compared to dentures, which may slip or require frequent adjustments.
Insurance coverage varies depending on your provider. We recommend checking with your insurance company to see what is covered, and our office can assist you in navigating your benefits.
Once your implants have healed and the final restorations are placed, you can eat just like you would with natural teeth. During the healing period, you may need to follow a soft food diet.
Unlike traditional bridges, dental implants do not require the alteration of neighboring teeth. Each implant is placed independently into the jawbone.
As with any surgical procedure, there are some risks, such as infection or implant failure. However, these risks are rare, especially when performed by a skilled periodontist.
You should care for your implants just like natural teeth—brushing twice a day, flossing, and attending regular dental checkups.
The cost of multiple teeth implants varies depending on the number of implants needed, the complexity of the procedure, and whether additional treatments are required. We offer financing options to help manage the cost.
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