Missing teeth and malocclusions
Teeth fall out for many different reasons. Sports injuries, car accidents, repeated dental procedures, tooth decay and advanced age are just some of the circumstances which may result in lost teeth. When a tooth is lost, the mouth goes through a series of changes. Teeth on either side of the recently lost tooth will begin to naturally migrate toward the space left by the tooth. This will, in turn, cause the bite to become uneven, as teeth will not match up as they are intended to.
This malocclusion can start to cause other issues, and other teeth will begin to loosen now that the teeth are not packed as tightly together. The tooth on the opposite side (for example, if a tooth was lost on the bottom, the opposing tooth would be the similarly-positioned tooth on the top) that provides the crossbite for the missing tooth will start to loosen and eventually fall out due to disuse. All these reasons and more are why it is crucial to get your implant and dental crown placed as soon as the tooth loss occurs.
How do dental crowns work?
Dental implants are best utilized when someone is missing one or several teeth. Modern implants have been used successfully for over 30 years, providing millions of new artificial teeth to those who have lost a tooth or two. Over one million new dental implants are placed yearly worldwide. It is clear that this system is tried and true, and having a dental crown put in is one of the best things you can do for your compromised and missing teeth.
To be a good candidate for an implant and dental crown, you must have the following qualities:
Good overall healthNo health conditions that negatively affect bone regrowthGenerally good oral healthNo current gum diseaseSufficient jawbone density at the implant locationThe ability to receive anesthesia, either topical or localFor dental implants to be inserted successfully, there will need to be sufficient bone volume in the jaw where the gap is. If it has been determined that there is enough bone for the procedure to work correctly, the restorative dentist will move forward with choosing the material of the crown.
Crowns are made to be durable and can last a lifetime if maintained properly. Dental crowns are made from artificial materials and therefore are not susceptible to bacterial damage like tooth decay. You can still get gum disease where a crown is, so this does not mean you can stop brushing this tooth.
During the preliminary appointment, the dentist will surgically insert the titanium post and take an impression of the mouth. After waiting for about five months, the titanium implant will have completely fused with the bone, becoming a permanent fixture of the mouth. The implant works as the artificial tooth root, and the crown as the restoration (the part that looks like a tooth).