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Spanish Many adults are impacted by tooth loss, a critical oral health concern. The American College of Prosthodontics estimates that approximately 178 million people are currently dealing with tooth loss, having lost one or more teeth. Losing even one tooth affects your lifestyle in various ways. It changes how you eat, speak, and smile and can seriously impact your self-esteem. Losing all your teeth often forces you to make extensive lifestyle changes. If you are struggling with tooth loss, we provide effective solutions, including dental implant treatment.
Understanding Dental Implants
Dental implants and mini dental implants are a cornerstone of restorative dentistry. These strong metal posts provide a long-lasting solution for replacing lost teeth and restoring oral function. They consist of a screw made from titanium, which serves as a substitute for your natural tooth roots. Dr. Bradford inserts the screw into your jawbone, providing a strong base for a dental restoration.
Who Can Benefit From Dental Implant Treatment?
Dental implant treatment is a versatile solution suitable for a variety of situations. You may find dental implants beneficial if you’re missing the following:
- A single tooth: If only one tooth is missing, Dr. Bradford will attach a dental crown to the implant to restore your smile and bite function.
- More than one tooth: If you have multiple missing teeth in a row, Dr. Bradford can replace them with an implant-supported bridge.
- All your teeth: A series of mini implants can support an implant denture, providing a more stable and secure alternative to conventional dentures. Additionally, if your current dentures don’t fit tightly, dental implants can stabilize them, improving comfort and functionality.
The Benefits of Dental Implants
Addressing missing teeth is important to maintaining oral health and overall quality of life. Dental implants offer several advantages over other restorative procedures, making them an appealing choice for many patients.
- Greater stability: Dental implants provide far greater comfort and strength since the artificial teeth are firmly attached to your jaw. No matter what type of prosthetic you have, your restoration will stay securely in place. This stability restores your ability to chew and speak confidently, allowing you to return to the lifestyle you’re accustomed to.
- Preservation of natural teeth: Another key benefit of dental implants is that they don’t affect your remaining healthy teeth. Traditional dental bridges are supported by healthy teeth neighboring the gap, but the enamel must be shaped so the bridge fits snugly. Traditional crowns also require the removal of enamel. Conversely, implants function independently of your remaining teeth, keeping your healthy teeth fully intact.
- Jawbone stimulation: Dental implant treatment is essential for maintaining and improving bone health. When you don’t replace a lost tooth, your jawbone begins to weaken because it no longer receives stimulation from the tooth’s roots. Implants act like natural tooth roots—they stimulate the jawbone and prevent bone and tissue loss. This preserves your jaw’s structure and maintains your face’s natural appearance.
- Improved oral health: Tooth loss can make it more challenging to maintain good oral hygiene, leading to bacteria buildup in empty tooth sockets. Dental implant treatment fills in these gaps, promoting better oral health. They also prevent remaining teeth from shifting towards the gap and creating misalignment issues.
Types of Dental Implants Used in Treatment
There are two primary options for dental implant treatment—conventional dental implants and mini implants. Although they share the same purpose, they differ significantly in size, design, and procedure.
Conventional Dental Implants
Conventional dental implants consist of two components: a screw and a connecting abutment piece. Due to the larger size of the 5 mm-wide screw, some individuals with bone loss may not be eligible for standard implants or may require a bone grafting procedure before implant placement. This extra step makes the procedure even more invasive and extends the overall treatment timeframe, sometimes taking many months or a year to complete.
Mini Dental Implants
Mini dental implants offer a more streamlined, less invasive approach to tooth replacement than their conventional counterparts. With a width of less than 3 mm, mini implants are suitable for individuals with narrow jawbones. They are also a single-piece, allowing Dr. Bradford to place mini implants and attach a restoration in a single appointment. Because mini dental implants are immediately stable, the entire process is more efficient. This includes recovery: The narrow profile of mini implants contributes to a much faster healing process.
Since the procedure for mini implants requires fewer visits and less time, they are more affordable than traditional dental implants. As a proud Mini Dental Implant Center of America, Dr. Bradford specializes in these innovative devices.
Complete Your Smile With Dental Implant Treatment
Dental implant treatment is renowned for its transformative effects, restoring smiles and confidence with remarkable success. Mini dental implants, in particular, provide unique benefits, including a minimally invasive procedure, immediate results, swift recovery, and affordability. If you’re ready to learn more about how dental implant treatment can benefit you, we encourage you to contact Dr. Bradford and schedule a free consultation today. A brand-new smile is just a phone call away.
