Brisbane Dental Implants

When many people think of missing teeth, they likely picture the cosmetic impacts, such as a gap that becomes visible when you smile or open your mouth. However, when natural teeth are lost, it's more than just unsightly; it can have a negative effect on one's oral health and overall well-being. 

Edward St Dental is here to offer help to patients with missing teeth. We are pleased to provide dental implants, including an implant bridge and other tooth replacement options. 

A missing tooth, especially in the back of your mouth, can compromise your ability to chew the foods whose nutrition is vital to your longevity and well-being.

Here are some adverse health impacts of lost teeth that have yet to be replaced:

• Speech impediment — Because the position of your tongue depends so much on your teeth, loss of a particular tooth can result in the development of a lisp or other problems talking.
• Threat to adjoining teeth — The gap left by a missing tooth draws the adjoining teeth towards it, which may begin to lean and eventually become misaligned, leading to issues like TMJ disorder and bruxism.
• Bone loss — One lesser-known function of intact and healthy teeth is that chewing pressure promotes bone regeneration in the jaw. When that pressure is absent, bone loss may occur, complicating many tooth replacement procedures.
• Facial changes — Along with potential bone loss, missing teeth may cause facial sagging and other changes in the soft tissue around the mouth.

However, at Edward St Dental, Dr Matthew Pulvirenti and his team want you to know many options exist to replace missing teeth. So whether you've lost only a single tooth or several teeth, you don't have to live with the discomfort, embarrassment, and other potential problems they cause. Let us help guide you towards the best possible tooth replacement option.

Dental implants are widely becoming the benchmark standard for tooth replacement in today's leading dental technology. The main benefits are that implants address the problems associated with missing teeth and have excellent durability and longevity.

If you're interested in replacing missing teeth, it's essential to understand how a dental implant works. So first, we divide its structure into three distinct parts: 

• The artificial root (implant screw)
• The implant abutment
• The restoration (e.g., dental crown, bridge, denture)

The Artificial Root 

The artificial root resembles a screw, forming the implant foundation placed into the bone. This portion is made from strong and highly biocompatible titanium, meaning that bodily rejection of surgically implanted titanium is very rare.

The Implant Abutment

The implant abutment connects the root and the restoration. We offer abutments in various forms depending on the restoration our dentist plans to use. For example, we design an abutment for a dental crown that looks and works like the original tooth for a single-tooth implant. But if your treatment plan calls for replacing a series of teeth, your abutment can work to attach the root to an impact-support bridge or denture. Our team will work with you to ensure you decide on the restoration that fits your needs.

The Restoration 

The visible portion of your dental implant is the restoration. We will tailor this part of your tooth replacement using our extensive chairside CEREC crown production. By the end of the process, you can feel assured that we will monitor and help you maintain your restoration so it lasts for years with the proper care.

Consultation and Exam 

When addressing your missing teeth, our first step is an exam and consultation to ensure you are a good candidate for any implant scenario. If so, we will refer you to a trusted local specialist who performs the surgical aspects of dental implant placement, which they usually perform in-house in about an hour. Sometimes, your specialist will perform a bone graft to ensure your jaw can support the artificial root.

After the Dental Implant Surgery 

After surgery, you will allow several weeks and up to several months for the artificial root to heal and become integrated into your jawbone in an osseointegration process. When the bone has grown entirely around your root, it will be strong enough to support your restoration.

Attaching the Restoration

When osseointegration is complete, you will return to Edward St Dental to have your particular restoration attached and checked for fit. Dr Pulvirenti's team of professionals can help ensure your restoration fits and functions well while looking and feeling great.

Among the breakthroughs in modern dentistry is the multitude of tooth replacement options available. The team at Edward St Dental wants you to know that having missing teeth doesn't have to spoil your quality of life.

If you would like to learn more about dental implants or their cost, we encourage you to call our Brisbane dental clinic to book an appointment as soon as possible. We believe that a new life with a complete smile is within reach.