Missing a single tooth

Why replace a single tooth?

Your teeth are held in place by their roots in your jawbone. When you lose a tooth due to impact or tooth decay, the bone surrounding the area begins to resorb or shrink away. This happens as the tooth is no longer present to support and stimulate the bone. The teeth on either side of the missing tooth can also start to move into the space where the gap is.
The amount of bone loss and movement varies from patient to patient and the longer the gap is left the more problems you will have. Issues such as severe gum disease occurs as it is more difficult to clean the teeth when movement has occurred. This can lead to tooth decay, gum recession and further tooth loss.

The process of a single dental implant.

When replacing a single tooth, there are a number of options available. Usually a single tooth implant is the method of choice as it provides you with a brand new tooth root. This helps to maintain the jawbone and gum and also reduces the chance of you losing other teeth from decay or tooth movement. Other options include a denture or a bridge or to leave the space.

Single dental implants are commonly performed to replace a missing tooth. A dental implant is designed to be as close to your old ‘real’ tooth as possible. However, if you have lost a lot of gum/bone due to tooth loss you may require some bone grafting before an implant can be placed.

There are very few cases in which a dental implant cannot be placed. We can check beforehand with a simple CT scan, which is carried out on-site. A dental implant is a very simple procedure to have done. The implant is placed under local anesthetic and you will feel nothing apart from a gentle vibration. If you are very nervous, we can offer oral sedation but, in reality, most patients feel an implant placement is easier than getting a filling or an extraction. It is important to leave the implant buried under your gum to heal for 3-4 months before we start to make the tooth.

A temporary denture can be worn to cover the gaps in your smile during this period. Once the gum and bone have healed around the implant, we make and fit the permanent crown and your smile is complete once again. With your new teeth you will be able to chew and smile with confidence.

Costs of immediate placement of Dental Implants

It is best to perform your treatment in as risk-free a way as possible and so we recommend delaying implant placement until healing has occurred. If you wish to proceed immediately, there may be a higher fee associated with it to cover the cost of the extra risk of failure.

Questions? We have answers.

Having an implant doesn’t need to be stressful. Our Patient Coordinators will be delighted to answer your questions and walk you through the whole process step-by-step. Stop by Seapoint Clinic today and let us show you why we’re Ireland’s largest and most trusted dental implant provider.

Take your first confident steps to a full smile today

At Seapoint Clinic we make sure that our patients have all the available information on hand to help them make the choice to regain that beautiful smile. If you would like further information or to book an appointment, please contact us. Our team look forward to hearing from you.