While losing your teeth as a child is a rite of passage, having a missing tooth as an adult is not nearly as cute. Although it is natural to feel embarrassed about missing a tooth, the good news is that you do not have to feel that shame forever. Expert dentist Emmanuel Puddicombe has helped countless patients like you to restore their smiles with dental implants. These realistic-looking prosthetics are surgically attached into your jawbone and can last for the rest of your life.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Function
It can be painful to eat without all of your teeth. In fact, you can do serious harm to your jaw by adjusting your bite motion to compensate for a missing tooth. Having a dental implant allows you to chew your food properly and avoid trying to chew on just one side of your mouth.
Speech
Missing teeth can also affect your speech. If you have started slurring or developed a mild speech impediment after losing a tooth, a dental implant can help those conditions go away.
Appearance
Obviously, appearance is a top concern for most patients. Having a gap in your mouth can distract from the attractiveness of your smile, so filling it in with a prosthetic eliminates that problem. Additionally, because missing teeth can leave your jawbone susceptible to erosion, you can avoid developing a “sunken” face by filling in that jaw space with a dental implant.
Dental Implant Procedure Details
You will need at least two appointments to receive a dental implant. In your first visit, Dr. Puddicombe will give you anesthesia and perform oral surgery. This surgery consists of inserting a titanium post (which resembles a screw) through your gums and into the jawbone beneath the absent tooth. While you will have to wait a few months to make sure your mouth has healed and the post has successfully integrated with the jawbone before you can begin phase two, Dr. Puddicombe will attach a temporary tooth to the post to conceal the gap in the interim.
When your mouth has recovered and you are ready for the next steps, Dr. Puddicombe will remove the temporary tooth and screw on the permanent implant to the post. He has many implant choices on hand, so you will be able to pick out one that best matches the size and shade of your existing, natural teeth. Your friends and coworkers will be unlikely to detect that your implant is not a real tooth.
Candidates for Dental Implants
Most patients who are in good health and have a missing tooth (or multiple missing teeth) are strong candidates for dental implants. Dr. Puddicombe will be able to confirm your eligibility during a dental appointment. If you have several teeth missing in a row, Dr. Puddicombe may recommend an alternative form of treatment, such as an implant-supported bridge.
To speak to one of the Rochester area’s finest restorative dentists and to see for yourself just how authentic a dental implant looks, please contact Family Dentistry of Lyons at (315) 946-4656 to arrange for an appointment.
