I Have Several Missing Teeth: Am I a Candidate for Dental Implants?

When it comes to replacing missing teeth, dental implants have long been the gold standard in dentistry. Dentures and bridges are fine, but dental implants are a step up. You might wonder, though, if it’s possible to replace multiple missing teeth with implants. The answer is yes. 

Dr. Stephen Hiroshige and his staff want you to enjoy excellent dental health and also feel confident about your teeth. You shouldn’t have to worry about your dentures slipping when you eat or talk, and you should feel great about the appearance of your teeth. That’s why we offer dental implants. 

First, how do implants work? 

When we think about teeth, we tend to think about just the part we can see, but the truth is each one of your teeth extends below your gum line. The roots of your teeth play an important role in your oral health. Each time you bite down, your tooth root gently stimulates blood flow to your jaw bone, which nourishes that bone and keeps it healthy. 

Your jaw bones give your face structure, so the health of your jaws is an important part of your appearance. Missing teeth can jeopardize the health of your jaw bones, and the shape of your face can eventually change.

Dental implants correct that problem by serving as a prosthetic tooth root. Dr. Hiroshige surgically implants a titanium post into your jaw bone, and as it heals, the post becomes fused with the bone and behaves exactly like your natural tooth root. We then place a crown on top of the post, which looks like your other teeth. 

But, what happens when it’s more than one tooth? 

If you needed a titanium post for each missing tooth, dental implants probably wouldn’t be an option. If you’ve been missing teeth for a while, your jaw bone may already be becoming unhealthy and unable to support multiple posts.

The good news is that one implant can hold multiple crowns, which is sometimes called an implant-supported bridge. In fact, some people who are missing all their teeth have implants. In those instances, Dr. Hiroshige places one implant in each quadrant of your mouth to support an arch of crowns. 

He can also use an implant to support a bridge, which serves as a replacement for more than one tooth. Another good thing about dental implants is that Dr. Hiroshige and his staff customize your crown, so that it fits your mouth and is virtually indistinguishable from your natural teeth. Even people who are missing more than one tooth can benefit from dental implants.

Benefits of dental implants

In addition to giving you a prosthetic tooth root, dental implants have other benefits. For example, once the post is fused with your jaw bone, it’s there permanently. As long as you practice great dental hygiene, your implant should remain undamaged and healthy.

Implants also don’t require the same kind of care as traditional dentures. You don’t remove your crown for cleaning, and there’s no need for any sort of dental adhesive. Your crown or bridge won’t slip while you eat!

If you have questions about whether or not dental implants will work for you, schedule a consultation with Dr. Hiroshige. He can evaluate the health of your jaw bone, determine if you’re a good candidate or not, and discuss your options with you.