Single Dental Implant Solutions for
One Missing Tooth

If you are missing a single tooth due to disease or trauma, it can be easily replaced with a single dental implant. To replace a single tooth, a self-supporting dental implant is placed at the site of the missing tooth consisting of a titanium base, an abutment post and a crown or replacement tooth that will look and feel like a natural tooth.

Dental Implants vs. Traditional Dental Bridge
A single dental implant is now considered the standard of care for those missing a single tooth. Unfortunately, most dentists are not trained in the placement of dental implants, so the most commonly used solution is a fixed dental bridge. This approach involves filing down the two surrounding healthy teeth, so that they may act as anchors for a three unit bridge (three artificial teeth) that is then cemented onto the two surrounding teeth

The damage to the structure of the surrounding teeth is permanent. Further, statistics reveal that these damaged teeth eventually fail due to the stresses placed on them by the bridge. The result is the eventual loss of those teeth and an even longer bridge.

A single dental implant offers a vastly superior solution because it restores the lost tooth root, and surrounding healthy teeth remain unharmed. In many cases, a single dental implant and an attached temporary crown can be placed in one day. However, this reduces the long term success rate from 99% to about 90%. The preferred approach is to place the dental implant and allow it to bond to the bone for 4 to 6 months before placing a permanent implant crown.

A Solution to Bone Loss
Your natural tooth root helps maintain bone density, but when you have the unfortunate occurrence of losing a tooth, the bone will deteriorate overtime. Since dental implants integrate with existing bone, your jaw structure remains intact and your oral health is preserved.

During your initial consultation, Dr. Brueggen will assist you when deciding which course is best for your specific case.

Approximate cost - $4,000 to $6,000 per tooth