Losing your teeth
When you lose a tooth, you lose much more than is visible to the natural eye. Each of your teeth has roots that go deep into your jawbone. This is what gives your teeth their strength and stability. The bone tissue in your jaw is in a constant state of renewal, ever supporting your teeth.
With a missing tooth, you also lose your roots. Most of us only consider what we can see, but the truth is our teeth are bones. And each of these bones is deeply embedded in your jawbone. Your jawbone is ultimately what holds our mouth together, providing your teeth with strength and stability. With missing roots, the bone will deteriorate, thereby causing your surrounding teeth to shift.
And the problem only grows worse with time. If your existing teeth are in peril because of the bone loss, they may come out, further compounding the issue.
Getting new roots
Of the several methods dentists have to replace missing teeth, a dental implant is a unique option in that it allows Dr. William M. Schneider to create a new “root” in the form of a titanium post, which they insert into your jawbone. Once it’s inserted, your body takes over and fuses the implant into place by growing bone tissue up and around the post.
The final step is to place a crown over the post, which fits in seamlessly with your existing teeth.
Other prosthetic options aren’t able to re-create a root in your jawbone, so you can still incur bone loss even though the problem above your gum line has been resolved.
Benefits of dental implantation
A dental implant offers protection against bone loss, while providing superior stability because your dentist is creating a new root. The stability of other prosthetics relies on neighboring teeth, not your jawbone. A dental implant is much like any other tooth in your mouth, firmly anchored in your jawbone, allowing you to chew and speak without any discomfort.
Implant technologies
In addition to replacing single teeth with our Nobel Biocare™ implants, your dentist may also offer the innovative All-on-4® implants for patients who are missing entire rows of teeth. With just four or six strategically placed implants, your dentist can provide the necessary support for a full arch of teeth.
In fact, with dental implants, we can set the stage for several restorations, including:
- Crowns
- Bridges
- Partial dentures
- Full dentures
If you’d like to learn more about the many possibilities with dental implants, Wiliam Schneider, DDS and our professional staff are here to help. You can give us a call at (952) 935-2700) or you can request an appointment directly online.