When there are healthy teeth next to a missing tooth space, the most conservative and modern way to replace the missing tooth is with a dental implant. The implant is a small threaded cylinder that is placed where the missing tooth root would have been and is often smaller than the original root. Placement of the implant is becoming a very routine treatment in the dental office and it is often done by the Oral Surgeon or Periodontist in addition to trained General Dentists. Once the bone is healed around the implant there is no discomfort, just like a natural tooth root. The dentist can then place a crown on the dental implant which becomes just like one of your natural teeth.
More and more research is revealing the strong link between your oral health and general bodily health. A chronically infected mouth can have severe consequences for your heart! Bacteria can circulate from the mouth throughout your body causing damage in other organ systems. A clean, healthy and happy mouth is an important step to overall health.