It’s hard to truly understand the important role your teeth play in your daily life — until you actually lose one. With the loss of one small tooth, you may suddenly feel self-conscious and less attractive. Instead of smiling widely to greet a friend, you keep your lips pressed together in an uncomfortable grimace. After ordering at your favorite Manhattan restaurant, you may discover how difficult it is to chew and enjoy your food. Even speaking can become a chore, as your tongue seems to keep finding its way to the hole in your mouth.
A missing tooth, however, doesn’t have to stay missing. With advancements in dental technology, it is possible to replace a tooth with a natural-looking replacement.
Options to Replace a Missing Tooth
When it comes to ways to replace a missing tooth, there are three main options:
- Dental bridges, which are bonded or cemented into place. Teeth surrounding the gap are reduced in size and the bridge is placed over those teeth.
- A partial denture, which can be taken out of the mouth for cleaning. Partial dentures have a clasp which can attach to your natural teeth.
- A dental implant, or tooth implant
The method used will depend on your health, your periodontist’s recommendations, and your own personal preference, but in most cases, periodontists in Manhattan recommend a tooth implant.
A dental implant acts as the new root for your replacement tooth. It will bond with the bone and establish a strong foundation for the crown. Many patients are quite happy after getting a tooth implant because they are extremely durable and can last a lifetime. They also look very natural, do not disturb any existing teeth, and the procedure itself is surprisingly easy when performed using microsurgery.
Microsurgery for a Tooth Implant
Tooth implant microsurgery performed by Dr. Kissel in Manhattan, involves replacing a missing tooth without major incisions. Dr. Kissel uses a microscope to increase visibility and uses highly sophisticated, customized micro-instruments to create very small openings for the implants.
Because the incisions are kept small and sensitive tissue, muscles, and nerves are not disturbed in any way, teeth implants using microsurgical procedures are much more comfortable; patients will also usually experience less recovery time.
About three or four months following the tooth implant procedure, Dr. Kissel will perform a non-invasive test on the implant to ensure it has bonded to the bone. Then, coordinating with a restorative dentist, the final replacement tooth will be fabricated and attached. With proper care (regular brushing, flossing, and professional cleanings), dental implants have a high success rate and can be a solid permanent solution to replacing a missing tooth.
Wondering if you might be a good candidate for a tooth implant? Call the Manhattan office of Dr. Scott Kissel today to schedule a consultation at (212) 702-9088.
