Replacing a single missing tooth with dental implants in Melbourne

Did a rugby match get out of hand and you lost a tooth on the field? Or any other accident where you had a tooth fall out that couldn’t later be found or even if it was simply decay that led to you needing to have a tooth removed? Whatever the cause, walking around with a gap in your smile can be a difficult and confidence-degrading situation but thankfully with dental implants in Melbourne, you don’t have to for long.

What is a dental implant?

Dental implants in Melbourne can replace a missing tooth entirely, from root to tip, allowing your body to maintain the bone structure in your face while also giving a false tooth something to fit securely too. The root part of this tooth is the implant itself and it is made of titanium which is a strong metal alloy that is seldom rejected by the human body as human bone absolutely loves to fuse with and grow onto this substance thus providing a secure base for a new false tooth.

What is a false tooth?

A false tooth is the bit of the tooth that you see above the gum, this is made of dental porcelain and will be custom fit to your dental arch to not only match the size and colour of your other teeth but even the transparent quality of natural teeth which is easily mimicked by this material. Your new tooth will fit securely onto the implant with an abutment.

What is an abutment?

Think of a screw within a screw. Once the body has healed from implant surgery we can attach the abutment to the inside of the implant; while the implant sits beneath the gum in the bone, the abutment suits atop the gum but is secured in the implant. A false tooth can be clipped onto the exposed part of the abutment securely which means that if anything happens to it, you won’t need surgery again, simply a new tooth fitted to this abutment.

How long do they last?

Because titanium doesn’t tarnish, dental implants in Melbourne can last for your entire life which makes them far more reliable than natural teeth which are constantly at risk of decay. This is a sound investment in your oral health as failing to replace a missing tooth can lead to significant bone loss which may affect the teeth surrounding the gap as they become loose and fall out.

The procedure

Surgery is required to place a dental implant into your jaw. After numbing the area we will cut open the gum to expose the bone which we will then drill into to place the implant. We may fit the abutment at this stage, it depends on your individual case and bone density. You will then need to wait 6 months for the healing process to be complete where the bone fuses to the titanium. During a second appointment we will fit the false tooth until then you will be provided with a temporary crown which will close the gap in your smile to help you remain confident and self-assured.

Disclaimer: All treatment carries risk. Individual consultation is required with one of our practitioners to ensure that the treatment is right for you.