Hi, my name is Dr. Abalos, and I'm here at Sunbrite Dental. Today I would like to talk about single tooth implants.
What is a single tooth implant, and how does it differ from other types of tooth replacements?
A single tooth implant, as I'll show you with my model here, has different parts. Just like a car has a steering wheel, engine, and tires, an implant has different components. You wouldn't tell your friends, "Check out my steering wheel, engine, and tires," you'd say, "Check out my car." Similarly, an implant is made up of different parts: the tooth part, the attachment, and what most patients refer to as the screw, which is actually the implant itself, as it is implanted into your jawbone. I'll show you the other side of my model, which is like the colored television version of the black and white X-rays that I look at. Let's take a look at this tooth that's black in the middle. It's dead and needs to be removed. Once it's out, there's a nice bony socket, a perfect hole for placing an implant. The implant part essentially replicates the root of the tooth. It takes about three months for a patient's bone to grow within the ridges of the implant, locking it in place. Once it is locked in, we place the attachment, take a mold, and send it to the lab. Later, the attachment comes back with the tooth that fits in the space, and we replace the removed tooth.
What does the tooth implant procedure typically involve, and how long does it take?
The actual placement of the implant can vary from 45 minutes to an hour and a half. If you're already missing the tooth, the appointment is shorter because we don’t have to extract a tooth. We just numb you, place the implant where the tooth is missing, and then suture the gums together over the implant. This takes about 45 minutes. If you've been told a tooth is no longer savable, and you want to replace it with an implant, 80% of the time we can place the implant during the same visit. I prefer this because it allows the patient to heal just once. If there's too much infection, characterized by pain and swelling, we would need to remove the tooth and let the infection heal before placing the implant. This ensures a greater chance of success for the implant.
What is a bone graft for a tooth implant, and when is it necessary?
A bone graft helps your body heal by filling the socket after tooth removal, especially if significant bone is lost or infection is present. It looks like shaved coconut. By using a bone graft, your body doesn't have to form as much bone, reducing healing time. At our office, a bone graft is always necessary to ensure the implant aligns with neighboring teeth. Proper alignment prevents future complications when restoring the implant.
How does a single tooth implant compare to a bridge or denture, or any tooth replacement?
A tooth implant is the best option because it stimulates the jawbone, preventing bone loss. When a tooth is removed, the jawbone loses stimulation from chewing vibrations, causing it to shrink. A bridge uses neighboring teeth as anchors but doesn't stimulate the jawbone, which can lead to food getting stuck under the fake tooth over time. An implant is in the jawbone and sends vibrations that maintain bone integrity, making it last longer than bridges. I've had my implant for 16 years without issues.
How can patients find a qualified tooth implant dentist?
To ensure your dentist is qualified, ask them how long they've been placing implants and for before-and-after photos. A good dentist welcomes these questions and will happily show their successful cases. We are more than happy to share the various single-implant cases we've done.
How can I find out if I'm a good candidate for a single tooth implant?
The simplest way is to have a conversation with the doctor. They can assess what is causing tooth loss and ensure any underlying issues are addressed to prevent future problems with the implant. At Sunbrite Dental, we aim for treatments that last, like my 16-year-old implant.
I hope this discussion on single tooth dental implants answered your questions. If you have more questions, please call or text me at (702) 819-0866 or email me at [email protected]. Until next time.