Have you lost a tooth or several teeth? This is a common occurrence and something that people should not feel embarrassed about. Many people accept this as part of becoming an adult but consider getting single tooth dental implants if you are tired of using artificial teeth to replace the missing ones. A single tooth dental implant’s benefits, procedures, and costs are discussed below.

What is Single Tooth Dental Implants

Single tooth dental implants are miniature titanium posts surgically placed in the jaw, usually under local anesthetic. A dental implant for one tooth looks like a screw or cylinder and is attached to a fake tooth, making it appear as if the person never lost the tooth in the first place. They are generally used to replace missing front teeth but may also replace other types of lost or missing teeth.

Benefits of Single Tooth Dental Implants

A dental implant for one tooth offers several benefits, including:

  • Increase self-esteem and boost confidence due to the restoration of your smile. You can chew food normally with single tooth implants, so you do not have to settle for soft foods to keep the teeth in place. You will also experience an improvement in speech as you will no longer have to worry about the teeth shifting.
  • It is a long-lasting solution that has been shown to last for several decades, offering patients an opportunity to smile confidently again.
  • There is a reduced treatment cost compared to the overall cost of a bridge and a crown. The treatment is faster and can be done in just one visit, unlike other procedures that may require multiple procedures over time.
  • They feel and look like natural teeth, and so, there is no need to worry about people staring at your artificial teeth. They will not tell that you have implants, which gives the patient confidence when speaking or smiling.

Single Tooth Dental Implant Procedure

Here are the steps for single tooth dental implant procedure:

Initial Consultation

An initial consultation will be done, during which your doctor will inquire about your medical history and general health. You should share every detail, even the small things such as medication you may be taking or any allergies you might have. They may also ask you about previous dental treatments that you have had to determine if it is safe for them to start your treatment. They will also take a panoramic x-ray to determine how many implants are needed and the best location during this time.

Surgical Placement

You can do the surgery under local anesthesia, which means that you will not feel anything during the process, or you can do it under IV (general) anesthesia, where you will be sedated. There are two methods of placing the implants, which include:

  1. The subperiosteal approach, where the implant is placed on top of an existing bone. This is normally done when adequate bone structure surrounds the jawbone to have a strong and favorable outcome.
  2. The subcrestal approach is where the implant is placed inside or under an existing bone. This will be done when there is an inadequate bone structure for a single tooth implant placement.
    The implants get attached to a mini screw, so the procedure should not take longer than an hour. It might seem like a lot of work, but it is necessary to ensure that you can chew properly.

Crown Placement

Once the surgery is done, you will have to wait for around six months so that the jaw can heal. Your dentist may give you a temporary replacement tooth during this time, which looks like any other denture. This procedure will be much easier than the first one since no implants are involved.

Healing and Care

After the placement, the doctor may give you some medication for pain relief, antibiotics in case of infection, or other treatment-related instructions. You will be required to take good care of the implant just like your regular teeth. It would be best if you brushed them twice a day and flossed them at least once, ideally after every meal. You may be required to visit the dentist every six months