I Am Missing My Front Teeth: Can Dental Implants Replace Them?

While it’s common for patients to replace their back teeth with dental implants, believe it or not, it’s also perfectly possible for patients to use these innovative restorations to replace their front teeth. The procedure is largely the same in either case and can prevent dental health problems such as bone loss or further loss or decay of teeth. Read on to learn how having your dentist replace your front teeth with dental implants might be easier than you thought.

How Can a Dental Implant Replace a Front Tooth?

If the tooth needing replacement is still attached, the first step to receiving a dental implant is extracting it. Afterward, the empty socket will need at least three months to fully heal, allowing the bone to grow back and resolidify so it can provide a sturdy foundation for the implant. Without sufficient healing time, it is more likely for the dental implant to fail.

Once the bone has had enough time to heal, the implant can be placed. Using a local anesthetic, your oral surgeon will position a titanium post in your jawbone. After the bone has healed from the bone being placed, they will attach a lifelike artificial tooth to it above the gumline. Over the next several months, the jawbone and the post will fuse together through the natural process of osseointegration, resulting in a sturdy restoration that looks and functions just like a real tooth.

Are There Any Health Benefits to Dental Implants?

Teeth provide the jawbone with the stimulation it needs to stay strong and healthy, and shortly after the loss of a tooth, the bone structure around its socket begins to atrophy. As the structure recedes, it can pull the neighboring teeth out of alignment, which can make them harder to clean and more vulnerable to damage, potentially resulting in a vicious cycle of further tooth loss. As the jaw loses more and more teeth, it also loses more of the exercise it needs, which can cause the whole mouth to slowly sink into the face and leave the patient with an old and withered appearance.

Since dental implants are rooted in the jaw and function just like real teeth, they can serve as replacement tooth roots, and keep the bone healthy for a lifetime. They also restore your ability to chew virtually any food imaginable while providing all the psychological and social benefits of a full and beautiful smile.

Your smile is one of the greatest assets you have, and it deserves the best care it can get. If you are missing one or more front teeth, consulting with your dentist can help determine if you are a good candidate for dental implants.

About the Practice

Whitinsville Family Dentistry provides customized oral health plans to the community of Whitinsville, MA. Led by Drs. Jason R. Tubo, Swati Agnihotri, Marc Bou-Abboud, and Sonya Shafique, the dedicated staff offer effective dental solutions using cutting-edge technology. Services include preventive, pediatric, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry in addition to dental implants. If you’re interested in replacing your missing front teeth with dental implants, contact the office online or dial (508) 234-8107.