Royal Oak Dental Implant Treatment For a Single Missing Tooth
Denture Replacement in the Birmingham, MI area
Benefits of an all-ceramic dental crown on dental implant:
When both the tooth and root are damaged, the best permanent replacement is a dental implant in conjunction with a ceramic dental crown. This solution both looks and functions just like a natural tooth.
In this case, a so-called one-piece dental implant is used. This means that all components are installed as a single unit, resulting in immediately full functioning teeth, shorter treatment time and minimized pain.
- Immediately functioning teeth
- Excellent esthetic result
- Life long, stable solution
The Dental Implant Treatment:
The dental implant procedure normally includes four visits to Birmingham, MI cosmetic dentist Dr. Larry Duffield. You should expect to be able to work the day after having the dental implant installed.
Course of treatment for a single dental implant
The course of treatment described here is one of several options available. Consult Dr. Duffield to find out what the best solution is for you, given your specific condition.
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1: Before the dental implant procedure
Dr. Duffield will make a first examination and take one or more x-rays of the area to prepare for the dental implant procedure. |
2: Installing the dental implant
The dental implant is installed. At this time, a temporary tooth (dental crown) is provided that allows you eat and function like normal almost immediately. The implant will need a few months to integrate with the jawbone before the next step is taken. |
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3: Attaching the new dental crown
The final step in creating your new tooth is the placement of the permanent ceramic dental crown. The new tooth is installed for life. No additional treatment is needed. |
4: End result
When your dental implant treatment is complete, you should expect the new tooth to fit and function just like a natural tooth. Do your usual dental hygiene to keep the tooth and gum around it clean and healthy. |
Alternatives to an all-ceramic dental crown on implant
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Tooth-supported fixed dental bridge
A traditional dental bridge involves grinding down adjacent teeth to support the bridge. A dental bridge is a stable solution with good esthetics and function that is fairly easy to install. However, this alternative to the dental crown and implant solution has two main disadvantages: continuous bone resorbtion (bone loss) in the area of the missing tooth, and sacrificing healthy teeth on behalf of the dental bridge. |
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Removable partial denture
A removable partial denture is not a permanent alternative to a lost tooth. It is unstable and loosely attached, which affects both function and comfort. A removable partial denture is made of plastic – a material that can't create the same esthetic result as a ceramic dental crown. The benefits are few but they do exist. With a removable partial denture, adjacent teeth aren't affected. Of course, they aren't affected with a dental implant, either, so this is only an advantage over a dental bridge. A removable partial denture is easily and quickly installed and relatively cheap. |
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Resin-bonded dental bridge
The resin-bonded dental bridge alternative has some clear advantages to an implant with a dental crown. The resin-bonded dental bridge is quickly installed, functions well and, since it is made of ceramic, it gives a high esthetic result. Moreover, natural healthy teeth aren't affected with a resin-bonded dental bridge. But it is not very permanent. The resin-bonded dental bridge will eventually come off – probably after just a couple of years – and will then have to be reinstalled. |
If you are missing a single tooth and would like to explore a dental implant with a ceramic dental crown as a solution, or even a dental bridge or partial denture as alternatives, call our Detroit - Birmingham, MI area office in Royal Oak, Michigan today to meet with Dr. Larry Duffield. He can walk you through the advantages and disadvantages of each and also determine if you are a candidate for a dental implant.