Multi-Tooth Implants

When someone loses multiple teeth, the effects can be both physical and psychological. Gaps in a smile can provide a breeding ground for bacterial infection and for decay, the loss of physical support that teeth provide can alter the structure of the face, and the loss can be a source of embarrassment and self-consciousness. Multi-tooth implants are a permanent and effective solution to all of these problems, helping you to feel confident in a restored and healthy smile.

Multi-tooth implants permanently replace lost teeth in one area. Unlike other solutions for multiple tooth loss, solutions like bridges and dentures, multi-tooth implants require very little maintenance, no more care than for real teeth. They are also significantly more comfortable. In addition to restoring a smile’s full beauty, they help your bones stay healthy and strong.

The Trouble with Tooth Loss

Losing teeth can be a sore spot emotionally. Too often people who lose multiple teeth avoid smiling or talking in public to avoid revealing unsightly gaps, but unfortunately the cons of missing teeth don’t end there. Tooth loss can make it difficult to speak or to chew food, and the structural ramifications are well-documented.

Missing teeth leave sections of the gums exposed to disease. Regular care is required to stave off infection or bad breath. Sometimes otherwise healthy adjacent teeth will naturally shift to accommodate the loss, negatively altering alignment. Teeth also prevent bone resorption, so losing them can lead to bone loss. When teeth are lost, the body tries to heal itself, resulting in bone tissue breaking down.

Fortunately, these problems can be stopped before they begin. The introduction of multi-tooth implants does much for preserving bone and dental hygiene. 

What Are Multi-Tooth Implants?

Each implant is made of three components: post, abutment, and the prosthetic. The titanium posts, the implants themselves, are installed directly into the jaw. They look like screws and are even stronger than the natural root of a tooth. The abutments form the link between the posts and the prosthetic crowns. The prosthetics look and function like healthy natural teeth.

Because dental implants are permanent, they actually require less maintenance than temporary or removable appliances. Dentures need to be cleaned every day and properly soaked to avoid warping. With implants, ordinary dental care routines are sufficient to keep them clean and strong. The things you already do to care for your natural teeth are perfect for treating your implants: daily flossing, brushing more than once a day, and regular visits to the dentist.

What to Expect

With multi-tooth implants, one post can often support more than one tooth. Minimizing the number of implants makes them more cost-effective. Unlike other teeth replacement options like bridges and partial dentures, multi-tooth implants effectively act like natural teeth without support from the teeth a person still has left.

They do this by fusing directly with the jawbone. This makes them extremely durable and  preserves the bone of the jaw from deteriorating. Because the bone of the lower jaw is denser than the upper jaw bone, recovery after installing multi-tooth implants on the bottom is generally  a shorter process than installation in the top row of teeth. This is because the denser lower bone inspires more rapid osseointegration (bone–metal fusing). 

If teeth need to be removed as part of dental care, sometimes an implant can be added at the same time as the extraction. This is not generally the case with molars as they have more than one root, but other teeth that need to be removed can be replaced with dental implants during the same procedure. This can cut down on recovery time since the body only needs to heal once.

Who Qualifies for Multi-Tooth Implants?

A history of good dental health and consistent dental care may make you a good candidate for multi-tooth implants. Pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or cancer are more likely to impact the jaw—and subsequently, any dental implants installed —negatively. Speak with your dentist about whether or not dental implants are right for you.

Dental Implants with Covington Dental Arts

At Covington Dental Arts in Riverton, UT, we specialize in dental implants. We want our patients to experience the convenience, health, and confidence that comes with having a full set of teeth that they can be proud of. If you have lost multiple teeth and think multi-tooth implants may be right for you, give us a call today.