Multiple Teeth Replacement With Dental Implants
 Your teeth perform a variety of different, very important, jobs every day. There’s a good chance that you do not even really think about them. Until you lose them, that is. There are several causes of tooth loss, including periodontal disease and facial trauma. No matter how it happens, tooth loss has a major impact on your oral health, your smile, and just about every aspect of your life. A few missing teeth in a given area of the mouth makes basic functions like eating and speaking more difficult. Food can get lodged in the empty space, increasing your risk for gum disease. Your jawbone begins to weaken in the area where your teeth are missing, which can cause adjacent teeth to shift and throw off your bite. Replacing missing teeth is important for giving you back your quality of life. At Oregon Periodontics, P.C., we can replace a section of missing teeth with multiple teeth implants.
Traditional Multiple Tooth Replacement
Traditionally, sections of consecutive missing teeth have been replaced in one of two ways. For areas missing more than three teeth, a partial denture was used. A fixed bridge consists of a single unit containing your replacement teeth. The teeth are set between two dental crowns, which are anchored on to the healthy teeth adjacent to the empty space, and cemented securely in place. A partial denture, on the other hand, is a removable prosthetic. Your replacement teeth are set into a gum-colored base that is supported by the gums. It also has the addition of metal clasps, which hook on to adjacent teeth to provide more support. While still used today, both of these options do have some disadvantages.
Dental Implants
Dental implants, a fairly recent discovery, provide you with an alternative to traditional tooth replacement methods. Implants consist of three components, the implant, the abutment and the crowns. The implants are small titanium rods that are surgically placed into the jawbone. The abutment, or connector, is placed on top. Finally, the crowns replace the visible portions of your missing teeth, filling in the empty space and completing your smile.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants offer numerous benefits over traditional tooth replacement methods. Because the teeth are supported on the implants, rather than your teeth or gums, they are more comfortable. They are more natural in appearance. They are easier to care for than partial dentures. The biggest benefit of dental implants is that they provide a permanent solution to tooth loss and help to maintain the health of your jawbone.
How Multiple Teeth Implants Are Placed
Multiple teeth implants require a surgical procedure. We begin with a local anesthetic and sedation. Next, we make small incisions in your gums to expose the bone underneath. Small holes are drilled, and the implants are placed. The exact number of implants needed for your multiple teeth implants will depend upon your unique needs, including the health of your jawbone and the number teeth missing. Once the implants are placed, the gums are sutured closed, and a temporary restoration is placed.
Healing can take upwards of several months. As you heal, we monitor your progress, making sure that the bone fuses properly to the implants. This fusion, or osseointegration, is critical to implant success and stability. Once you have fully healed, we remove the temporary teeth, place the abutments and take impressions. The impressions are used to create your permanent teeth, which are secured into place on the implants with small screws.
Multiple teeth implants are a great solution for restoring sections of missing teeth. Call Oregon Periodontics, P.C. at (503) 575-7750 to schedule your consultation and find out if multiple teeth implants are right for you. |
