If you have lost a single tooth or were born with a hereditary failure to produce a tooth, you can replace it with a dental implant. This can allow your tooth to be replaced without having healthy, beautiful neighboring teeth filed down to support a bridge.
Single tooth implants by a periodontist can replace the lost natural root so that your general dentist can then cement a new crown on it. It is recommended that children under the age of 16 wait for their jaws to fully develop before implant treatment.
Teeth may be lost as a result of periodontal disease, cavities, or fractures (more common in teeth with previous root canal treatment). This type of multiple tooth loss can begin at the back or front of the mouth. Tooth-supported bridges can fail due to cavities, root canals or fractures.
With implants, a number of dental implants can allow an implant-supported bridge to be fabricated. Implants are not susceptible to cavities or root canals. As a result, your bridge is not dependent on the support of your own teeth for future function. This type of restoration is designed not to come out of your mouth.
If you are going to lose all your teeth or have already lost all teeth in one of your jaws, you may have a denture with or without implants. A full denture (without implants) works in the short term, but as time passes underlying bone slowly resorbs with no tooth roots or implants to keep it alive and active. Once the jawbone resorbs, it is gone forever. As a result, the denture (without implants) no longer fits well, moves around and often causes pain.
With implants, your new (implant supported) denture is securely attached to your jawbone, keeping it healthy and alive. For people who are unable to tolerate a (non-implant) denture for psychological or social reasons, the feeling of recovering "natural" teeth results in a renewed quality of life without having the roof of your mouth covered.