At Midtown Dental, we understand the impact of missing teeth on oral health, confidence, and overall well-being. Fortunately, single dental implants offer an exceptional solution that can replace missing teeth, restore your smile and enhance your quality of life. In this blog post, we will delve into the world of single dental implants, exploring their benefits and why they are the preferred choice for tooth replacement.
Replace missing teeth, boost your confidence, and improve your health. Book an appointment with Midtown Dental today.
What Is a Single Dental Implant?
The single dental implant consists of three main components:
- Implant Fixture: The implant fixture is a small titanium metal post that is surgically placed into the jawbone. It serves as an artificial tooth root, providing a stable foundation for the replacement tooth.
- Abutment: The abutment is a connector piece that attaches to the implant fixture. It protrudes above the gum line and provides support for the prosthetic tooth.
- Prosthetic Tooth (Crown): The prosthetic tooth, also known as the crown, is the visible part of the implant. It is custom-made in-house at Midtown Dental to match the color, shape, and size of the surrounding natural teeth, ensuring seamless integration and a natural-looking appearance.
The process of getting a single dental implant involves multiple stages. After a thorough examination and treatment planning, the implant fixture is placed into the jawbone during a minor procedure. The jawbone then undergoes a process called osseointegration, where it fuses with the implant fixture, providing a stable and secure base.
Once the osseointegration is complete, the abutment is attached to the implant fixture, and an impression of the area is taken to create a customized prosthetic tooth. The crown is then securely attached to the abutment, completing the single dental implant restoration.
Midtown Dental’s Cutting Edge Implant Technology
The process begins with a Midtown Dental team member using an intraoral scanner to capture a digital impression of the patient’s teeth. The scanner uses advanced 3D imaging technology to create a highly accurate digital model of the teeth and surrounding oral structures, eliminating the need for traditional putty-like impressions and making the experience more comfortable for the patient.
The digital impression is transferred to a computer, where specialized CAD (computer-aided design) software is used. While using computer software, analyzes the digital model and uses the software to design the desired surgical guide and dental crown.
The 3-D printed surgical guide ensures the proper placement of the implant predetermined by Dr. Jenny Apekian with CBCT and CAD/CAM imaging. Using 3D imaging, Dr. Apekian chooses and designs the best materials for the implant.
How are Guides Used in Dental Implant Treatment?
Precise Implant Placement: Surgical guides aid in achieving accurate and precise implant placement. By using these guides, our dentists can ensure that the implant is placed in the optimal position, depth, and angulation, as determined during the treatment planning phase.
Improved Safety: Surgical guides enhance the safety of dental implant surgeries. By pre-determining the ideal implant position, they help avoid critical structures such as nerves, blood vessels, sinuses, and nearby teeth to reduce the risk of complications during the surgical procedure.
Efficiency and Time Savings: The use of surgical guides streamlines the implant placement process, resulting in increased efficiency and time savings. The guides serve as a visual reference during surgery, allowing dentists to work more efficiently and accurately, reducing the duration of the procedure.
Patient Comfort: Surgical guides contribute to patient comfort during dental implant surgeries. They enable dentists to minimize tissue trauma and surgical invasiveness by precisely placing the implant without the need for extensive incisions or excessive manipulation of surrounding tissues.
Predictable Outcomes: By incorporating surgical guides into the treatment process, dentists can achieve more predictable and consistent outcomes. The guides ensure that the implant is positioned according to the treatment plan, leading to improved aesthetics, functionality, and long-term success of the implant restoration.
Why Should You Replace a Missing Tooth?
Dental implants restore functionality, allowing you to eat, chew, and speak naturally without restrictions while providing a stable and secure foundation. Dental implants also offer aesthetic benefits by closely matching the color, shape, and size of existing teeth, resulting in a seamless and natural-looking smile with the added benefit of preventing further jawbone deterioration, as the implant will stimulate the bone and maintain its strength and structure. Unlike other single-tooth replacement options, implants improve oral health by preserving adjacent teeth and promoting easier oral hygiene.
The crowns for replacing missing teeth are made in-house at Midtown Dental and are durable and long-lasting, potentially lasting a lifetime with proper care.
Ready For Your Next Appointment?
Our experienced team, led by Dr. Jenny Apekian, Dr. Gina Crippen, and Dr. Sarah Mathai, can help you with your dream smile. We treat every patient like family, and we’re passionate about health care and delivering exceptional service.
Contact our experienced and friendly Midtown Sacramento dental office staff to schedule your appointment today.