For an adult, missing a tooth can be an embarrassing problem. If the tooth is in the front, where it is an easily seen when you smile, it may affect you self-esteem and your image. You want to have a confidant smile. The good news is that there is something you can do to replace that missing tooth. Dental implants are a popular and permanent way of replacing teeth at any age.

In addition, dental implants can replace more than one tooth and for many reasons. You might have lost your tooth due to injury or it might even be a hereditary problem. With dental implants, your oral surgeon can easily replace one tooth. The implant will replace both the tooth and the root. An implant can also replace several teeth. In this case, the implant will replace a row of teeth and a few of the roots. If you are missing all of your teeth, an implant can be made like full dentures. Dental implants take little recovery time and look very natural, which makes them a good choice for many people.

When you go to your dentist for a missing tooth, there are several factors he or she will look at to determine whether or not you are a candidate for dental implants. You will work with your dentist or an oral surgeon to check the following factors:

Good dental hygiene: One of the first things your oral surgeon will look at is your current dental hygiene. This is important because the success of your implants will be determined by your oral hygiene. This means you must make a commitment to visit your dentist on a regular basis and brush and floss properly.

Healthy gum tissue: You will also need to have healthy gum tissue before you get any dental implants. This is because your dental implants will rest against your gum and when you have your surgery, your gums will be cut and stitched. You will need to be able to heal from the surgery.

Jaw bone: Another factor is whether nor not you have adequate bone in your jaw. You will need the bone to support the implant. Your dental implant is designed to last you for years and if your bones are not strong enough, they will not be adequately supported.

Space: Your oral surgeon will also look at the space that you have. In some cases, the space might be too small for an implant. If the space is too big for one implant, you might need further work on the area before the implant procedure.

Health: Your oral surgeon will also take your health into account before deciding if you can support a dental implant. Some patients with diabetes may not be good candidates for this procedure because they do not heal as efficiently as others.

If you are missing teeth, you can work with your dentist and other dental care providers to replace the missing teeth. You will find that dental implants will offer you a confidant, healthy smile.

So you and your dentist have decided that the best course of action for you and your mouth is to have a dental implant installed. But how do you decide which type of dental implant is right for you? Well, with the expertise of your dentist, and a small amount of homework on your part, finding the perfect one for you should be a fairly straightforward process. Below is a brief discussion of some of the most common types of dental implants.

Root Form Implants

This type of dental implant is the closest in shape and size to the natural tooth root. They are commonly used in wide, deep bone to provide a base for replacement of one, several or a complete arch of teeth. Because of this versatility, root form implants are some of the most commonly used type of dental implant. The healing period for this type of operation usually varies from as few as three months to six or more before it can support your new teeth, so it is both a financial investment, and a investment in time.

Plate Form Implants

The second type of dental implant that is commonly seen is the plate form implant. They are usually used when the bone is narrow and it may not be suitable for the root form type of dental implant to be effective. A plate form implant is flat and long so it can easily fit into the narrow jawbone. Like root form implants, there is a healing time that must take place after the operation and before new teeth can be added to this type of dental implant. Be sure to follow your dentist’s instruction concerning how to eat and what types of food to consume. If you’re unsure, ask; any dentist or oral surgeon will be glad to answer your questions, no matter how simple they may seem.

Subperiosteal Implants

There is a third type of dental implant available on the market today is the subperisosteal implant. This implant form is used when the jawbone is in advanced stages of resorption, leaving very little bone for the dental implant to work with. When this happens, the two different types of dental implant discussed previously simply will not be a feasible option. While the root form and the plate form are designed to sit within the bone, this type of dental implant is designed to sit on top of the bone but underneath the gums. Usually this dental implant is placed either using a dual surgery method or a single surgery method.

The flapless dental implant placement does need to be a time consuming affair because of innovative improvements in surgical procedures, which at one time were known to take time to perform. Most often flapless dental implant placement requires minimal surgical invasion and in most cases the implant is put into place and used immediately based on refined protocols of treatment as well as the uniqueness of the implant surface. The flapless dental implant placement allows the patient to get immediate restoration of teeth and consequently much improved quality of life. There are many advantages to flapless dental implant placement including less discomfort, reduced time spent on the dentist’s chair, immediate function, and reduced bone loss.

Single Tooth, Multiple Teeth Or All Teeth

The flapless dental implant placement can be performed on single tooth implant restoration or multiple tooth replacement and, even all teeth missing. The use of flapless dental implant placement is a management strategy that is used as technologies develop and prosthetic options increase. Flapless dental implant placement has become more widely used and due to innovations in implant surfaces there is more awareness among dentists about the importance of such treatment. The flapless dental implant placement is possible to surgically place implants into the bone and there is a continual effort being made to incorporate it in contemporary implant dentistry.

There are a number of benefits such as reduced pain and swelling. Flapless dental implant placement has also been found to be useful in extreme cases such as injuries caused by severe circumstances like a terrorist attack where there may be a lot of soft tissue lacerations and loss of maxillary premolars. This is a new concept that can be considered as being a giant step forward in the development of implant treatment. It is a means to prevent many of the dental implant problems that were traditionally used.

The idea behind the flapless dental implant placement is to make use of a thin titanium dental implant screw that can tread itself into the jaw bone and titanium is a metal that is especially suited to humans since the human bone grows onto the surface and firmly sticks to the surface. In addition, the metal screw is able to penetrate through the gums and tissues and enter the jaw bone thus providing help in preventing traumatic experiences that are felt with the traditional dental implants.