Single Implants vs. Multiple Teeth

When teeth are lost due to damage or decay, it is imperative that they are replaced as soon as possible since it can have dramatic, negative effects on your dental health. Dentures and bridges can be used to replace these missing teeth, but dental implants can be used to replace missing teeth and restore the roots as well. Dental implants can be used to replace single teeth or multiple teeth, or they can even be used to anchor dentures or bridges in place as well. Single implants are often suggested when certain types of teeth are lost, such as the front bottom teeth since they are used primarily for biting and require a great deal of force to do so. Multiple teeth can be replaced as well, restoring both the tooth and the adjoining root as well. Patients can have each individual tooth restored, or they can have several implanted roots placed in their jaw that can anchor a set of dentures or a dental bridge into place. Replacing each individual tooth is stronger, but partial implants require less invasive surgery so the choice may depend on your personal preferences, your budget, or on the overall strength and support of your jaw.

Dental Implants

Replacing missing teeth has both health and cosmetic benefits. While missing one tooth may keep you from smiling, it is also causing a shift in your bite. Your existing teeth will move toward the gap as your jawbone shrinks, pulling them away from their natural position. Restoring your dental health and your smile can be accomplished through dental implants.

At Fary Yassamy, DDS, we understand the importance you place on your smile. If you are missing several teeth, you may also realize just how difficult it is to eat or speak. Dental implants are just one of the many cosmetic dentistry procedures Dr. Yassamy and her team of dental professionals perform at her San Marino, California cosmetic dental practice.

A dental implant is more than a tooth replacement. When you lose a tooth, you lose your root as well. Dental implants are titanium screws surgically placed within your jawline to anchor an artificial crown. The surgical attachment of dental implants eliminates some of the problems associated with dental solutions like fixed dental bridges and dentures. Bridges can hurt adjacent healthy teeth and dentures may slip, causing bone damage.

Candidates for Dental Implants

Not everyone is a good candidate for dental implants. You may be a candidate if you:

• Are missing one or more teeth
• Have a fully grown jawbone
• Have healthy oral tissue
• Have enough bone in your jaw to secure the implants
• Are unwilling or unable to wear dentures

Dental Implant Procedure

The entire dental implant process will take several months to complete. This is because your jawbone must heal around the implant. Dr. Yassamy performs the initial exam and the restoration, however, you will be referred to a specialist to have the implant procedure.

Dr. Yassamy will take impressions of the area where your dental implant or implants will be inserted then, create an initial design for your artificial tooth. The specialist will be given instructions on the exact location where the dental implant will be inserted.

Once the dental implant has been placed and your gums stitched, you must wait for your gum to heal so that a temporary crown can be placed on top of the anchored screw. The temporary crown will remain in place while your jaw heals around the implant. This can take as long as six months.

Once your jaw has healed and grown around the dental implant, Dr. Yassamy will place a permanentdental crown that matches your natural teeth. The dental implant procedure is very safe and provides long-lasting results.

If you believe you may be a candidate or would like to learn more about dental implants, contact the office of LVI-trained cosmetic dentist Dr. Fary Yassamy today. We serve the San Gabriel Valley and the areas of Pasadena, Arcadia, San Marino, and West Covina, California.