Dental Implant Options in Nashville TN

If you are missing teeth, it is crucial to replace them. Because people still eat when missing teeth, the remaining teeth get worked harder and harder until they become overloaded and chip, break, or become loose, leading to more tooth loss. When teeth are missing, your mouth will change and can cause your face to look older. Implants are a great way to replace your missing teeth and, if properly maintained, can last a lifetime!

Implants are used primarily in two ways. One way is by using dental implants to replace one tooth or a few teeth. Implants of this type are composed of three main parts: first, a titanium implant body that takes the place of the missing root; second, an abutment or connector that screws into the implant body; and third, a tooth-colored crown that is cemented on top of the abutment (or connector). With implant treatment, you can smile confidently, knowing no one will ever suspect you have a replacement tooth.

The other way implants are used in dentistry is to replace all the teeth in an arch for denture stabilization. If you must have all your teeth removed, you could have a row of 4-8 implants placed and then a fixed (nonremovable!) exactly replicating permanent teeth. If 4-8 implants are not an option, then 2-4 implants can be used as an anchorage for dentures. The dentures would snap on and off the implant anchors. This is especially critical for lower dentures, which tend to shift when you talk or chew. For patients with removable partial dentures, implants can replace missing teeth so they have a more natural-looking smile.