Historically, the most common treatment for missing teeth has been the denture, or partial denture. Dentures, or false teeth, merely adhere temporarily to the top and bottom jaw where natural teeth used to be. A jawbone without teeth will eventually shrink from disuse. The chewing action of healthy teeth stimulates continual bone growth; once teeth go missing the bone begins to atrophy. This is why many elderly people appear to have ill-fitting dentures. They probably fit properly when first created, but the jawbone simply shrunk over time, creating an awkward, ill-fitting look.

Thanks to advances in dental technology, there is another permanent option to replace missing teeth due to trauma or disease. Instead of just replacing the biting structure of the teeth, the whole tooth root is replaced using titanium dental implants . Dental implants are used to correct single missing teeth, whole rows of teeth, and even eliminate the need for partial or full denture plates.

Dental implants are made of titanium screws of varying size, fitted to fill the gap in the bone where the tooth root used to be. Titanium is well received by the body and is used in a number of surgical procedures. Once screwed into the underlying bone, the appropriate dental appliance, a single tooth, or even a denture plate, are fastened to the part of the implant that remains exposed after insertion, known as an abutment.

The rough edges of the implant actually ossify over time, meaning that the bone grows around it and creates a strong bio-anchor to the new tooth. After about six months, the dental implant is fully stable and becomes a permanent part of the mouth. The porcelain crowns bonded to the implant abutments are more natural looking, are more durable than dentures, and can easily be replaced if damaged.

A single missing tooth can cause problems with adjoining teeth where root instability occurs. A dental bridge fills the gap between two other teeth, but the underlying root structure is still susceptible to bone absorption and undermining of the adjoining tooth root. A dental implant fills the void left by the missing tooth root. The bone continues to be strengthened by the action of all the teeth during normal use. The same process can be used for a whole row of missing teeth, eliminating the need for partial denture plates.

Using implants, entire dental plates can be affixed permanently in place. Using approximately five implants in the lower jaw or eight in the upper jaw, the dentures can be bonded to the abutments permanently. The implants placement will strengthen the jawbone and prevent bone shrinkage. This option also replaces the daily cleaning and denture adhesive routine that becomes tedious almost immediately. The versatility of dental implants also allows strong anchor points for snapping in temporary dentures that fit well over a long period of time.

When considering dental care, it may be beneficial to calculate the eventual return on investment. Implants are more expensive than other treatment options, but they last a lifetime, bone health is maintained, and overall dental appearance is improved. Implants are also impervious to tooth decay, and less susceptible to gum disease when properly cared for. So don't just replace the tooth, replace the root as well for a permanent tooth loss solution.