We recently took a look at the benefits of placing dental implants and helping people enjoy full and beautiful smiles. In today’s blog, we will continue this discussion by focusing on how we use advanced technology to guide placement and ensure a full and functional smile. When should you see your North Hollywood, CA, dentist for tooth replacement?

The Dental Implant Portion

A dental implant is very similar in appearance to a small screw. They are created from titanium, a material that is biocompatible, meaning the body accepts it as natural and allows the jawbone tissues to bond with it. A process known as osseointegration, this allows them to last for decades, even a lifetime, while removable dentures and bridges need to be replaced every 10 years or so. We insert this into the jawbone, wait for the osseointegration to occur, and then we attach an abutment that holds the restoration in place, completing your new tooth. As we discuss further on, we also have options for more advanced cases of tooth loss!

Guiding Your Placement

To begin, we will use computed tomography to take multiple 3D x-rays images of your smile, so we can see the teeth, roots, gums, and even the oral structures and jaw joints. Combining these images provides an incredibly detailed 3D model of your smile, allowing us to plan the best position for your new tooth to ensure they can absorb bite forces and daily pressure, while also properly stimulating the growth of jawbone tissue to prevent the loss of bone structure, which often follows untreated tooth loss. Next, the technology will guide our oral surgeon to show exactly where the new tooth root should be inserted.

Solutions for Minor and Advanced Tooth Loss

If you have one lost tooth, we can place a single dental implant and use a custom crown to provide the new visible portion of your smile (and a durable chewing surface). But if you have multiple missing teeth in a row, then we could place two to three to support a custom bridge. Six to eight per arch could secure a fixed denture that never slips, and also prevents the aged appearance that occurs when the bone tissue breaks down following the loss of multiple teeth. For these options, we can create a custom prosthetic to attach to the dental implants, or your new teeth look natural and allow you to eat your favorite foods again!

Do You Have Questions About Treating Tooth Loss?

Our team would like to help you obtain a full, complete smile with implant dentistry. For more information on our dental prosthetics, schedule a consultation by calling Modern Smiles in North Hollywood, CA, today at 818-763-9353. We also proudly serve patients who live in Burbank, Toluca Lake, and all surrounding communities.