Types of Dental Implant Restorations: Which One Is Right for You?

Understanding Dental Implants

Dental implants are revolutionary small metal posts used in modern dentistry to address the challenge of missing teeth. At Little Canada Dental, Our implant dentist near you specializes in offering dental implants as a permanent and effective solution to replace missing teeth.

The Mechanics of Dental Implants

Dental implants involve a sophisticated surgical procedure aimed at replacing tooth roots. This process begins with a precise surgical opening of the gums, followed by skillful drilling into the jawbone to create the perfect space for the tooth implant.

The dental implant itself is crafted from titanium, a biocompatible metal renowned for its ability to seamlessly integrate with natural bone tissue. When our experienced dentist places the implant in your jawbone, the expectation is that it will fuse naturally with your existing bone structure.

It’s crucial to understand that a dental implant primarily replaces the tooth root. Consequently, immediately after the tooth replacement surgery, your artificial tooth won’t function in the same manner as your natural teeth. During your consultation with our dentist, we will guide you through the procedure. After the implantation surgery, you will need to undergo the crowning process. We offer a variety of materials for this final step, ensuring the best possible outcome.

The Three Primary Types of Dental Implants Restorations

Our dentist provides a range of options for implant restoration to suit your specific needs:

Implants with Dental Crowns: This option is ideal for single-tooth replacement. When you’ve lost a single tooth, all that’s required is a single implant, which will be topped with a crown. The process closely resembles traditional crown placement, with the only difference being that the crown is anchored to a dental implant instead of a natural tooth.

Implants with Bridges: If you’ve lost multiple consecutive teeth, the prospect of undergoing a single-tooth replacement procedure with dental implants can seem overwhelming. In such cases, we recommend an implant-supported bridgework solution. This entails the use of two dental crowns and an artificial tooth. The crowns can be anchored to adjacent natural teeth or dental implants. However, if you’ve lost more than four teeth in a row, our implant dentist may recommend partials as a suitable alternative to dental bridges. Partials can effectively replace multiple lost teeth while ensuring stability and durability.

Implants with Dentures: In situations where you’ve lost all your upper or lower teeth, traditional partials or dental bridges may not be the most practical solution. Instead, we offer implant-supported dentures for full arch tooth replacement. What makes this solution exceptional is that it works even when you’re completely toothless.

However, given the impracticality of placing an implant for every lost tooth in full arch restorations, the implant restoration process is different. Dentists strategically place between 4 and 8 implants in your jawbone for full arch restorations. These implants serve as sturdy supports for the denture, a technique commonly referred to as all-on-4 implants.

Is Dental Implantation Right for You?

Should you have lost a tooth or multiple teeth, we recommend arranging a meeting with our experienced dental professionals in St. Paul, MN, to discuss dental implant options. This consultation will provide you with a comprehensive assessment of your eligibility for dental implants. While dental implants near you are a desirable option for many individuals, not everyone may be a suitable candidate.

Several factors come into play when determining your qualifications for implant restorations, including:

Gum Health: Maintaining healthy gums is crucial for the success of implant restorations.

Bone Tissue Strength: Prolonged tooth loss can result in a weakening of the jawbone. A weak jawbone may not provide sufficient support for a dental implant. Additionally, conditions like periodontitis can negatively impact bone health, potentially hindering the success of implant restoration.

Underlying Health Conditions and Medications: Certain health conditions that affect bone health, such as arthritis or cancer, may make dental implants unsuitable. Moreover, if you are taking medications like blood thinners or undergoing cancer therapy, it’s essential to inform your dentist beforehand, as these medications can impact the success of an implant restoration procedure.

Summary

If you qualify for dental implants in St. Paul, MN, you are on the path to experiencing a permanent, robust, and aesthetically pleasing transformation. The longevity and resilience of implant-supported teeth make them a superior choice when compared to other alternatives. You can be confident that the outcome of your procedure will provide a long-lasting and reliable solution, enhancing your smile and self-assurance. Contact our dental office today to embark on your journey towards a brighter, healthier, and more beautiful smile.