Dental implants are the gold standard to replace missing teeth. An implant is a titanium screw that is placed in the bone where the natural tooth root used to be. Over time, the implant will integrate, or fuse, with the bone. Once that process is complete, your dentist will place a crown (or tooth) on the implant, giving it a natural appearance, and restoring its ability to function.

Implants vs bridges – why?

A common question: is there an alternative to dental implants? Yes. First, do nothing and allow the space to exist. Second, RPD = removable partial denture. Third = a bridge. Demo/video     While bridges are a great option for some patients, it does require preparation of the two teeth adjacent to the missing tooth. Sometimes, this can result in removal of unnecessary tooth structure in order to fabricate the bridge. Other times, this can be a perfectly suitable option for adjacent teeth with large feelings, crowns, etc. One major disadvantage of bridges is cleansability. Bridges cannot be flossed like natural teeth. Instead, one must use a “floss threader” to clean underneath the bridge. This can be difficult as patients age and dexterity decreases.

Finally, dental implants help to preserve the surrounding bone. Without a natural tooth or implant in bone, it continues to resorb, or deteriorate, slowly over time.