Replacing Your Front Teeth with Dental Implants

Losing one of the teeth near the front of your mouth leaves you with a highly visible gap in your smile, which can make you feel very self-conscious about your appearance. You’ll want to have the space filled with a natural-looking restoration as soon as you can. Are dental implants a good choice for replacing your front teeth? In many cases, the answer is yes! Here’s what you need to know about this state-of-the-art treatment option.

The Benefits of Replacing Front Teeth with Dental Implants

Dental implants are surgically inserted into your jaw so that they can act as new tooth roots; once they’ve joined with the surrounding bone, they can be used to support a personalized crown or another type of dental restoration. This approach to replacing front teeth has many advantages, such as:

• Enhanced Strength for Biting: Dental implants provide anywhere from 80% to 90% of the bite strength of natural teeth. This will make your new front teeth suitable for enjoying a wider variety of foods.
• Prevention of Bone Loss: When you lose a tooth, your body starts to absorb the minerals in your jawbone, causing it to deteriorate. The stimulation that dental implants provide can prevent this process from occurring.
• Natural Appearance: Dental implant restorations are designed to be as lifelike as possible, which is ideal for replacing the teeth at the very front of your smile.
• Long Lifespan: As long as you’re taking good care of your dental implants by brushing and flossing every day, you can expect them to last for decades. Meanwhile, a traditional dental bridge normally has to be replaced every 10 years or so.

Are You a Candidate for Replacing Your Front Teeth with Dental Implants?

Dental implants are a suitable option for most adults who are missing at least one front tooth. However, before you can begin the dental implant process, your dentist will need to make sure that you’re in good oral health. Gum disease and other oral health issues may lead to dental implant failure if they aren’t properly treated before implant placement surgery.

When it comes to replacing the front teeth, your dentist will have to pay particularly close attention to the level of jawbone density in the area where the implants need to be placed. There isn’t as much bone around the front teeth compared to the back teeth, so bone grafting might be needed to ensure that the jaw can support the implant posts.

Your dentist can determine whether or not you’re a good candidate for dental implants during an initial consultation. If you’re facing a future with a gap near the front of your smile, don’t lose any time; call your dental practice today to start learning more about the dental implant process.

About the Author

Dr. Nancy Dysinger earned her DDS at The Ohio State University. She makes a point of taking continuing education courses so that she can keep up with the latest advancements in dentistry. At McComb Family Dental, she partners with some of the most experienced oral surgeons in the region so that her patients can enjoy the benefits of expertly placed and restored dental implants. To schedule an implant consultation with Dr. Dysinger, visit her website or call (419) 293-2335.