When a tooth is missing, a single tooth implant is very often the ideal way of replacing it.  A single tooth implant consists of several components.  The base is a small titanium post that replaces the roots of a missing tooth.  This base is held in place by an abutment that stabilizes its position.  A porcelain crown is then custom-made to match existing, surrounding teeth, and it is placed over the abutment and implant base.

A single tooth implant is a great way to keep your jawbone healthy, to stop neighboring teeth from shifting, and to maintain a stable bite. 

It is never a good idea to do nothing about a missing tooth, because there are too many problems associated with the gap it creates.  A chain reaction will result from the empty space. 

The negative result will be a shifting of the surrounding teeth.  When a tooth is missing, the biting forces on neighboring teeth change.  Also, the opposing tooth, without having any resistance now, will begin to extrude from its socket.

As your teeth move like this, new areas are exposed to plaque and bacteria.  These areas are hard to keep clean, so you will face a buildup of cavity causing agents as a result.  You also increase your risk of periodontal disease.

You may also start grinding and clenching your teeth as a result of the shift in your bite.  This will make your jaw sore, and it could lead to problems with your jaw joint, the TMJ

Of all the problems that result from a missing tooth, though, bone loss is the worst.  This is because teeth transmit chewing forces through their roots to the jawbone.  This provides the stimulation bone needs to stay healthy, so when a tooth is missing, the jawbone around the area begins to shrink, along with the surrounding gums.

Diagnosis and Treatment

To determine if a single tooth implant is right for you, we perform a thorough dental examination.  This examination includes reviewing your medical history and discussing in detail any condition that may interfere with healing. 

We also use our intraoral camera to perform a complete visual examination of your mouth in order to check the health of your teeth and gums.  In order to determine the health of your jawbone, we also take panographic x-rays.  We may also do a  CT (computerized tomography) scans. 

Finally, we take impressions and bite registrations to create an accurate model of your mouth.  This will be needed to create a crown that will match the surrounding teeth and work effectively to retain the shape and position of the opposing tooth.

The benefits of a single tooth implant cannot be understated.  To begin with, an implant fitted with a crown effectively replaces a missing tooth.  Both the base and the porcelain provide a functioning replacement for a natural tooth.

The implant is held firmly in the jawbone, so it feels much like your natural teeth when you talk and chew.  The crown is custom crafted to match or enhance your smile, so no one but you will know that you have a tooth replacement.

Cosmetic Dentistry is a specialized field that requires extensive knowledge and experience to be done correctly. The Medical Center Dental Group in Houston, Texas brings all of that and more to the direct benefit of each and every patient we treat. Although we are located in the world famous Houston Medical Center at Scurlock Towers, we routinely see dental patients who travel from Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, Beaumont and Midland Texas to see Dr. Dale Brant, Dr. Charles Campbell or Dr. Elizabeth OSullivan-Winslow for their cosmetic denistry services that includes: