Replacing a Front Tooth With a Dental Implant

Losing any of your teeth can be traumatic, but when it involves one of the front teeth, it is especially devastating. When a front top tooth is lost, patients feel the most significant setback to their appearance and speech. While there is currently not a way to “regrow” a lost tooth, we can come pretty close by using a dental implant and custom crown. Implant dentistry on the front teeth can be one of the most challenging tasks, but with a skilled and experienced dentist, you can walk away without anyone ever realizing you’ve lost a tooth.

Why an Implant is Best

Unlike any other restorative option, an implant can simulate a real tooth. This becomes extremely important when it comes to replacing a front tooth. We use the implant post as a tooth root followed by an abutment piece that attaches to the implant and reaches through the gum line like the crown of a tooth. Finally, a dental crown is placed on top to act as your prosthetic tooth and a seamless match to your adjacent front tooth. Keep in mind that dental crowns can be custom fabricated in color, shape and size, so we can make it look natural and seamless. With all of the natural components of tooth in place, your dental implant can properly stimulate the underlying bone and provide unrivaled stability for your prosthetic front tooth as you eat, speak and laugh.

The Challenges of a Replacing a Front Tooth

Not only is it important to replicate the exact appearance of a front tooth during replacement, but there are also challenging circumstances that typically come with losing a front tooth. Front teeth are the most common to fall out during a traumatic injury or bad fall. They can also require extraction due to severe infection or decay. In either situation, it is common for the surrounding gums and bone to also suffer harm. This is combined with the fact that the supporting gum tissues may already be more delicate and shorter in the front of the mouth.

Patients may need gum augmentation and/or bone grafting when replacing a front tooth with a dental implant. When trauma was the cause of front tooth loss, it is possible for the bone to collapse into the space that used to be occupied by the tooth root and for tissues to recede in response. While this can be a cosmetic issue, it also threatens the support system of a dental implant. Your implant demands proper bone and gum height to hold it in place. Rest assured, however, that there are dedicated procedures to rebuild lost or damaged tissue and bone and still qualify you for a front tooth implant.

Time is of the Essence

Have you lost front tooth? Call the office of Dr. Wayne Suway. While it is not hard to convince patients to act promptly on replacing a front tooth, it is important to realize that restorative dentistry in any area of the mouth is best performed immediately after tooth loss to avoid the risk of progressive bone loss and shifting teeth.