Do you have dificulties chewing your food?
Do you feel embarrassed when you smile?
Do you hide your teeth during a photo opportunity?
You don’t have to feel ashamed of your smile or torment yourself when you eat. At Pacifica Dental, we have the best treatment for missing teeth – dental implants!
69% of North Americans aged 35-44 have had at least one tooth removed as a result of infection, gum disease, or an accident. If the lost tooth is not visible, some people feel it’s okay not to replace it. This is not a viable option.
The long-term consequences of having missing teeth can be serious. The teeth act as a team, and the loss of one of them (except for the wisdom teeth that are often extracted) directly affects the rest of the teeth.
The effects of losing a tooth are numerous and not just aesthetic. They include malocclusions, gum problems and speech defects.
With the loss of a tooth, adjacent teeth tend to slide into the empty space. This can adversely affect the ability to bite (malocclusion) to the point where jaw pain can occur.
The anterior teeth (canines and incisors) are used to cut and tear food, and the posterior teeth (premolars and molars) are used for grinding and chewing. The loss of a molar prevents mastication on that side. This leads to much more pressure on the opposite side, which can lead to a tooth possibly cracking over time. If the missing tooth is not replaced, over time, the opposing tooth begins to grow, often leaving the root visible. This tooth now becomes more sensitive and prone to complex cavities which may require root canal treatment.
It is very important to know that premolars and molars help maintain facial structure. When the teeth are missing and bone resorption occurs, the face will lose height and the distance between the nose and chin will decrease. Natural teeth move; thus, changes to the back teeth also affect the front teeth.
Perhaps the most serious consequence of a missing tooth is bone loss. Teeth help maintain the jaw’s shape and density. The loss of a tooth causes the bone to shrink 25% in width in the first year and 4 millimeters in height in the following year.
In summary, tooth loss is a very serious thing. The longer you wait after an extraction, the more difficult and expensive it will be to replace it.
If you do lose a tooth, we recommend you get a dental implant.
It offers many benefits that dentures cannot offer:
- The dental implant feels the same and works the same as a natural tooth. Other treatment options, such as dentures, may lead to bone damage and can interfere with eating, talking or other daily activities.
- Dental implants are a long-term solution. Dentures should be changed every 5-7 years, while implants can last a lifetime if cared for.
- Dental implants help maintain the shape of the face.
- Dental implants keep healthy bone tissue. The spaces left after the extractions can damage the bone. The dental implant is the only dental restoration option that preserves and stimulates the natural bone, helping it to regenerate.
- Removable dentures can make it difficult to pronounce certain words. Due to the fact that dental implants behave like natural teeth, there are no such speech impediments.
- Enjoy eating any food you like. With implants, you can bite without care.
Frequently asked questions
For those of you interested in Dental Implants, here are the most frequently asked questions aand answers:
Implants are recommended as soon as possible after losing a natural tooth. After losing a tooth, the area around it begins to lose its function. When the tooth is not being stimulated, the bone volume in the area diminishes and the jawbone actually becomes smaller in size. Although it previously supported the roots of the teeth, the area around the tooth – known as the periodontium – shrinks due to the lack of purpose for which it was created. This phenomenon is called resorption or bone atrophy.
A dental implant is a piece of pure titanium (99.95%) in the shape of a screw. It is meant to create an artificial root in the jawbone, where the natural root missing.
Reconstruction consists of two stages:
- the implant is surgically placed in the bone and
- a prosthetic abutment is placed into the implant. Above the prosthetic abutment is anchored a crown, a bridge or a prosthesis. The materials used are biocompatible and aesthetic: composites, polymers, porcelain on metal structure, porcelain on zirconium structure or integral ceramics, meaning porcelain without metal.
Patients with high blood pressure, diabetes, uremia, heart conditions, hypertension, acute rheumatoid arthritis and those undergoing radiation therapy are not candidates for dental implants.
Also, the procedure is contraindicated for pregnant or lactating women.
There is no age restriction. It is the general health of the patient that is important. As per above, implant treatment may be contraindicated in certain chronic diseases.
An implant will cost an average of 4,300 CAD.
The dental implant imitates the structure of the natural tooth. Therefore, the conditions in the mouth can affect the success of the procedure.
Like a natural tooth, the implant penetrates the jawbone. A healthy bone can support a dental implant.
The bone must be high and thick enough for the implant to fit. The jaw must have solid bone on the outside around softer bone on the inside in order to keep the implant safe. A healthy gum helps protect the jaw from infection by tightening around the implant.
If your oral cavity is healthy and you are in overall good health, you are a possible candidate for dental implants.
At Pacifica Dental, the success rate of a dental implant procedure is 98%.
Depending on the type of implant, its location, and the type of work selected, the total time period can be between 4 and 6 months. There are special dental implants, which due to their composition and surface, can be loaded prosthetically immediately.
If bone augmentation is necessary, then the healing period is longer. Pacifica Dental doctors discuss all aspects of any treatment with each patient and will also advise them on the recovery process.
The dental implant is placed into the bone through a painless and minimally invasive surgical procedure. With vast experience in the field of dental implantology, specializations and endowment technology, Pacifica Dental specialists can perform any type of dental implant – from the simple to the complex.
Many patients say that implant surgery is less painful than extracting a wisdom tooth. With state-of-the-art equipment, safe and effective local anaesthetics, specialized medical staff and years of experience, Pacifica Dental strives to provide treatment with minimal discomfort.
Many dental implants perform their functions successfully for 25-30 years. The prognosis for patients who have had periodontal problems in the past, especially those with bone damage around the roots of natural teeth, is less optimistic than for healthy patients. Diligently following the dentist’s recommendations for post-surgical care is also a factor in determining the success of the implant. Like any artificial body replacement, there are no promises or guarantees regarding the implant’s longevity.
The long-term success of the treatment is dependent on impeccable oral hygiene, done daily by the patient at home, but also, periodically, professionally with special instruments and equipment in the dentist’s office.
Pacifica Dental specialists will help teach you correct brushing techniques, and will recommend the most effective oral hygiene products, including those products developed for taking care of dental implants. Periodic professional sanitizations will be performed by trained hygienists, with specific tools and equipment, designed to protect both the implant and the tissues around it.
Pacifica Dental patients benefit from such a periodic monitoring program. In addition to oral hygiene, the occlusion (bite) will be checked every time, especially in the area of the implants, so that there will be no mechanical changes (overloads) that would lead to compromise and loss of the implant.
If you still don’t know if you are a candidate for dental implants or still want to find out more about this procedure, give us a call and schedule your appointment at Pacifica Dental. Our specialists will explain the entire process to you and we’ll decide together what type of treatment suits you best.
Book an appointment at Pacifica Dental and our professional team will examine and advise you on the best treatment options that fit your needs and wishes.
