Single Tooth Replacement at Newhouse Periodontics
Losing a tooth can be a traumatic experience. Newhouse Periodontics offers a single tooth replacement to restore your smile and confidence. Our expertly trained team of dental professionals goes above and beyond to make tooth replacement as comfortable as possible as well as providing the best care to restore your smile!
What is Single Tooth Replacement?
Sometimes teeth need to be replaced due to damage, disease, or accidents that cause them to be lost. Sometimes tooth replacement is necessary to fill gaps between teeth, preserve bone health, and restore a smile. A single tooth replacement using dental implants is a procedure performed by a periodontist to replace a tooth and its root using a dental implant placed into the jawbone
Dental implants look like cylinders and take the place of a tooth’s root. When the dental implant is restored, it gives the appearance of a natural tooth, letting you chew, speak, and smile confidently. Most of the time, patients say their single tooth replacement looks and feels so natural that they forget they lost a tooth in the first place!
What Causes Tooth Loss?
Tooth loss can be a sensitive subject and no one ever thinks or wants to experience it. Though it sounds daunting and unimaginable, tooth loss affects 69% of adults or about 178 million Americans. Several things cause tooth loss:
Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease, or gum disease, is the leading cause of tooth loss, affecting more than 40% of American adults. Gum disease occurs when bacteria attach to teeth. When left, the bacteria can cause gums to become swollen, red, and bleeding. If the infection goes unchecked and is not treated, it can lead to tooth loss. Fortunately, gum disease can be prevented and reversed with the right treatments and care. These could include conservative periodontal treatments (nonsurgical), pocket reduction surgery, regenerative procedures like bone grafting and root coverage, and routine periodontal maintenance.
Decay
You’ve likely been taught to consistently brush and floss twice per day to avoid gum disease and tooth decay, but what exactly is tooth decay? Decay (caries) is the result of a bacterial infection. The bacteria can erode the enamel and cause other issues like bad breath, pain, tooth abscesses, and tooth loss.
Illnesses
Some chronic illnesses and diseases impact oral health, including diabetes, arthritis, autoimmune disorders, and bone disease. The relationship between chronic illness and tooth loss varies; research from the National Library of Medicine confirms that those with chronic illnesses and disease have a greater risk of gum disease and tooth loss.
Trauma
Accidents like falls, fights, and those involving cars can happen and sometimes it can result in tooth loss. Injuries from sports like football and basketball can lead to facial trauma which can also cause tooth loss.
Tooth Infections
Tooth abscesses can also affect the gums and root of a tooth leading to tooth loss. Also, sometimes root canal therapy does not work which can also cause tooth loss.
Single Tooth Replacement Vs. Bridge: Which is Better?
Because every patient and their tooth loss is different, Dr. Nancy Newhouse can recommend the best treatment plan for your unique needs. However, when a tooth is lost, single tooth implant placement is recommended rather than a fixed bridge for several reasons. First, a single tooth implant can frequently last longer than a fixed bridge, lasting a lifetime in most cases. Also, fixed bridges are more difficult to clean which can worsen gum disease or permit decay to occur. Placement of dental implants can prevent bone loss. Finally, placement of a single implant does not destroy adjacent tooth structure. Again, Dr. Newhouse will diagnose your specific situation and offer treatment options for the best outcomes.
Single Tooth Replacement at Newhouse Periodontics
Dr. Newhouse, a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology, is an internationally recognized leader in periodontology with decades of experience improving smiles through dental services, conservative periodontal treatments, periodontal regeneration like root coverage and ridge augmentation, and surgery to replace a single tooth. A single tooth replacement procedure using a dental implant as the foundation will allow you to chew and speak well, protect tooth and bone structures, and help restore your smile.
Newhouse Periodontics offers customized solutions for dental implant placement to help ensure a great fit and appearance. Following a single tooth replacement using a dental implant, you can expect a healthy, vibrant smile.
What to Expect from a Single Tooth Replacement Procedure at Newhouse Periodontics
At Newhouse Periodontics, our approach to single tooth replacement with a dental implant is personalized, patient-centered, and focuses on comfort, precision, and long-term health. Dr. Newhouse employs advanced techniques and technologies to ensure each procedure is as effective and pain-free as possible.
- Comprehensive Assessment: Before any treatment, Dr. Newhouse initially evaluates your periodontal health using advanced imaging and diagnostic tools to make sure you are periodontally healthy. She also evaluates the site for a single tooth replacement to understand and plan the best approach to replace the tooth.
- Personalized Treatment Plans: Each patient receives a personalized treatment plan tailored to a patient’s specific needs and concerns. If implant placement is prescribed as part of the treatment plan, the plan would include presurgical preparation, the surgical procedure, and post-operative care.
- Minimally Invasive Techniques: When possible, Dr. Newhouse uses minimally invasive techniques to minimize discomfort, and reduce recovery time.
- Post-operative Care and Follow-up: Dr. Newhouse and her staff provide detailed post-operative instructions and follow-up care to ensure uneventful healing after surgery. Such ongoing care is essential to achieving the best results for obtaining and maintaining oral health.
- Restoration of the Dental Implant: Once the dental implant has healed and integration with the bone established, the implant will be tested for integration strength. Once healing and integration strength is assessed, a custom abutment and crown will be fabricated to match the adjacent teeth. Finally, the abutment and crown will be attached to the implant and your beautiful smile will be restored!
FAQs
Q: How many surgeries are needed before my single tooth is placed?
A: Assuming there is adequate bone for implant placement, one surgical procedure is necessary to place the dental implant.
Q: How long is recovery?
A: Discomfort like soreness or swelling should resolve after a few days. Dr. Newhouse does everything to make recovery as easy as possible by providing patients with post-op instructions, great follow-up care, and appropriate medications.
Q: How should I care for my teeth following single tooth replacement surgery?
A: You will need to follow the post-operative instructions given. You must avoid bothering incision areas and sutures (stitches) and avoid brushing in the treatment area until Dr. Newhouse gives you the “green light” to brush and clean between teeth as usual. Once your dental implant is restored with the abutment and crown inserted, you will be given instructions on how to clean around your implant crown and the professional maintenance necessary to keep your single tooth replacement healthy and looking great.
Why Choose Newhouse Periodontics for a Single Tooth Replacement Procedure?
When it comes to your smile and oral health, trust Newhouse Periodontics for professional, personalized, and appropriate care. From Dr. Newhouse’s extensive training and experience, our team of skilled and knowledgeable dental professionals, and state-of-the-art technology, you are in great hands here at Newhouse Periodontics. Safety and comfort are of the utmost importance and we offer personalized care to meet the needs of every patient.
Schedule Your Appointment with Newhouse Periodontics Today
If you are missing a tooth and want a replacement, book online or call 816-373-6800 to schedule your appointment for an evaluation to see what is right for you. Our staff is here to answer questions and guide you through the single tooth replacement process. In addition to single tooth replacement, we offer many other services including the following:
- Dental Implants
- Bone regeneration
- LANAP®
- Oral Surgery
- Root coverage
- & so much more!
We look forward to instilling confidence in your oral health and smile!
