Single-Tooth Implant in Auburn Hills, MI
Replacing missing teeth is an important part of restoring your confidence in your smile, and it is also key to maintaining dental health and a fully functioning bite. With a success rate of up to 95%, a single-tooth implant is one of the best and most effective tooth replacement options.
What is a Single Tooth Implant?
A single-tooth implant is a dental implant used to replace one missing tooth. You may lose your tooth due to severe tooth decay, gum disease, or trauma. Once your tooth has fallen out or been removed, an empty tooth socket is left behind, and a single-tooth implant can be used to replace the entire tooth structure. It consists of a titanium screw that’s surgically placed into your jawbone to act as the tooth root, the crown, which is the visible portion of the tooth, and an abutment that connects the crown to the implant.
Single Tooth Implant Process
Here’s what you can expect when you come in for a single-tooth implant procedure at Pristine Dental Care:
- Exam: During your initial consultation, Dr. Joseph will carefully examine your teeth and gums to determine that you’re a good candidate for a single implant crown. You need sufficient bone structure to accommodate the implant, and you may need a bone graft if you have insufficient bone structure.
- Implant placement: Once we establish that you’re a good candidate for the single-tooth implant, the next step is implant placement, which involves preparing a site in the bone to place the implant. The incision is then stitched up so the implant may attach to the bone over the next few months.
- Placing the abutment: After your jawbone heals, we’ll screw the abutment onto the implant.
- Getting a crown: We’ll then take impressions of your teeth and send them to the lab for crown fabrication, and once it’s ready, Dr. Joseph will attach the crown over the titanium post. The crown is designed to match the surrounding teeth in color and texture, ensuring a natural smile.
How Long Do Single Implant Crowns Last?
Dental implants are designed to be a permanent solution to tooth loss, and they can last a lifetime with proper care and good oral hygiene. However, the crown will eventually need replacing as they typically last between 10-15 years.
Benefits of a Single-Tooth Implant
- Restoring mouth functionality: Missing a tooth can make it difficult to chew or speak properly. It’s common for people who have experienced tooth loss to only chew on one side of their mouth or mispronounce some words. With a single-tooth implant, you can restore your mouth functionality, so you can eat your favorite foods and speak comfortably with others.
- Preserving bone: When a tooth is lost, the jawbone is no longer being stimulated by the force of chewing. Ultimately, this results in the body absorbing the bone tissue, a process known as resorption. Unlike other tooth replacement options, dental implants are placed in the jaw and act like natural tooth roots. This gives jawbone tissue the stimulation it needs to be healthy.
- Long-lasting solution: A single-tooth implant is a permanent solution to missing teeth, unlike dentures, bridgework, or other similar restorations. As long as good care is taken of the teeth and the implant, they can last a lifetime.
- Better oral health: Each tooth in your mouth supports the teeth around it, and when one tooth is missing, the surrounding teeth will eventually shift to fill the gap. This leads to crooked teeth that are harder to clean properly and can result in tooth decay or further tooth loss.
- Improved appearance: Your smile is often the first thing people notice about you, and a missing tooth can make it difficult to smile confidently or meet people for the first time without feeling self-conscious. Replacing a missing tooth with a single implant crown can improve the visual aesthetics of your smile, restoring your self-confidence.
- Maintain an even bite: Missing teeth can lead to misalignment, jawbone strain, and TMJ/TMD issues. A single-tooth implant fills in the tooth gap and helps maintain an even bite.
Cost of Single Tooth Implants
The cost of getting dental implants varies greatly, but on average, you can expect to pay anywhere between $1,000 and $4,000. Luckily, most dental insurance providers cover all or a portion of this cost.
Restore Your Smile with a Single Implant Crown
If you’re unsatisfied with your smile because of a missing tooth and are looking for a long-lasting solution, single-tooth implants may be the best option for you. Contact us today to schedule a consultation!