The loss of a tooth is unsettling, especially when it is one of your front teeth. That vacant space affects your smile, your ease of articulation, and even your self-esteem. An estimated 178 million Americans possess at least one missing tooth. If the missing tooth is visible, it is a high priority to have a permanent, smooth, and reliable replacement. Fortunately, modern dental care has the solution that mirrors natural teeth in all ways: single tooth implants for front teeth.
The Unmatched Solution to Anterior Tooth Loss
If a front tooth is lost due to trauma, decay, or periodontal infection, the question that always arises is how to restore it without risking loss of the nearby healthy teeth. A single dental implant is the gold standard because it is one independent replacement, treating the problem without altering any other part of your mouth. One implant is inserted in your jawbone through surgery, where it acts as a new artificial root tooth, unlike a traditional bridge, which rests on shaving down your other teeth.
This singular advantage is critical to maintaining your overall dental well-being in good standing. The implant provides the stimulation your jawbone needs to stay healthy. Without a tooth root, natural or artificial, the jawbone will begin to deteriorate, a process known as bone resorption. Over time, this diminished bone strength will change your facial shape, making you look older. One implant stops this deterioration, preserving the long-term health of your jaw and face.
The Benefits of a Dental Implant
The choice to replace a missing tooth with a dental implant goes far beyond aesthetics. Implants offer a functional and health benefit that no other form of restoration can truly match.
A Permanent, Natural-Looking Outcome
Single tooth implants for front teeth are designed to look and feel like your own tooth. The porcelain crown, precision-crafted, is made to match the color, shape, and size of your other teeth. The natural surrounding bone and gum tissue over the implant are left undisturbed, providing a smooth profile that makes the replacement unseen. You can smile, laugh, and speak with complete confidence, knowing your new tooth is securely in place.
Exceptional Longevity and Success
Dental implants have an exemplary lifespan (20+ years). The post is made of titanium, a biocompatible metal that is implanted directly into your jawbone through osseointegration. That creates a stable foundation. And indeed, dental implants succeed 95% to 98% of the time, and with the right maintenance, last forever.
Besides, implants at the front of the mouth also enjoy an even higher success rate compared to those at the back, mainly because they are subjected to lighter biting forces.
Investing in a restorative procedure requires knowing what the process is. The process of installing one dental implant starts with an in-depth treatment plan, including advanced imaging to chart out the exact position for your new artificial root.
The surgical process to install the titanium post is often fast, usually taking anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes for a single implant. After installation, an important healing period known as osseointegration sets in. This is when the implant integrates into your bone, a three-to-six-month process. During this time, we can provide you with a temporary tooth (crown) so that you never have to go without your full smile. Finally, we place the final, custom-designed crown on the healed site, completing your transformation.
Dr. Prompton and the Lux Smiles team are dedicated to making your visit as comfortable as can be, and the result is nothing short of brilliant. We understand the emotional as well as practical value of a complete, stunning smile. Our commitment is to provide the best materials and techniques available in order to produce a result that will leave you genuinely satisfied.
