If you’ve lost a tooth it has probably affected your confidence in a negative way. Imagine losing multiple teeth, or even a whole arch! Missing teeth alter the way you interact with people and limit the activities that you can do—including critical functions like speaking and eating. But, what if there was a stable, secure, tested way to replace your teeth from root to crown? What if you found out that this procedure has a success rate of 98%? There wouldn’t be anything stopping you from moving forward and restoring your smile! Premier Family Dental has a dentist in Waco, TX that can not only create the perfect prosthetic teeth for you but actually place them! Dental implants from Dr. Rick Cofer are the best option for you if you’re missing a single tooth or need to restore your full mouth.
What are dental implants?
While there are different options for patients struggling with the loss of one or more teeth, dental implants have a unique benefit that sets them apart. More well-known restorations like traditional bridges and dentures just replace the crown (visible portion). These prosthetics totally ignore the other vital component of your tooth – the root. Your tooth root stimulates your jawbone, keeping it full and healthy. If you do not have a healthy tooth root, that part of your jaw will start deteriorating over time. Collapsing jawbones can lead to more tooth loss and a sunken, aged facial appearance. Thankfully, dental implants replicate the entire structure of a tooth. Dental implants preserve and encourage the growth of new bone tissue. This procedure can truly help rejuvenate your entire smile.
How many teeth can I replace?
Dental implants can be used to replace anywhere from a single tooth to an entire set of teeth. Sometimes, it’s not in the best interest of the patient to perform extensive treatments to save a tooth if, for instance, tooth decay is too far gone. It is much more sensible to replace it with an implant—this is actually great for patients who are cavity prone because they will never get a cavity again!
There is no limit to how many teeth can be replaced in a healthy mouth. You can replace a few teeth or bridge them together with dental implants in Waco, TX. Here are three popular prosthetics that patients are familiar with:
- Crowns and bridges—Dr. Cofer can attach these restorations to implant posts and provide the same high quality, natural looking replacement solution without damaging surrounding teeth. A single crown or two attached crowns can typically be supported by a single dental implant.
- Partial or full dentures—If you have more advanced tooth loss, your dentist may recommend attaching dentures to a few strategically placed implant posts. Regular dentures can slip or cause further jaw bone deterioration from being held by suction or adhesives, but with implants they will stay in place, eliminating those issues altogether.
- All 4-on-4—This is an alternative way to place your dental implants for patients that have lost majority or all of their teeth. Two implant posts are placed vertically in the front of your mouth to support the denture. Then, two posts are inserted diagonally in the back of your jaws to anchor the dentures down.
As you can see, the options are practically unlimited! Dental implants are the closest thing to having your natural teeth in today’s dental technology. If you are struggling with missing teeth or considering having a tooth extracted, contact our office! Premier Family Dental would be happy to schedule a consultation to determine the best option for you!