You’re sick and tired of your dentures that slip and don’t fit comfortably in your mouth. You’ve tolerated them for a while now, but you’re ready to enjoy your favorite foods again. Your dentist recommends considering dental implants in Westhampton for your replacement teeth, but you wonder—how many will you need? In this post, you’ll learn what factors come into play when determining the number of implants you need and how your dentist can revitalize your smile with this treatment.
Number of Missing Teeth
Up to a point, the more teeth you are missing, the more implants you’ll likely need to hold onto your replacements. However, it is important to keep in mind that the number of lost teeth is not the same as the necessary number of implants. For example, to replace three missing teeth in a row, an implant-retained bridge, which uses two implants, may be the right solution. As another scenario, you may be missing all your teeth in an arch but require only four to six implants to hold your denture in place.
Type of Restoration
Different restorations are meant for a certain number of implants. For a single missing tooth, one dental crown is attached to a dental implant. For more complex cases, two implants would be needed for an implant-retained bridge or partial denture. Full dentures require at least four implants but possibly more.
Fixed or Removeable
In the case of implant-retained dentures, you may have the choice between a fixed denture or a removeable implant denture. While each has pros and cons, the fixed option tends to require more implants for additional stability and strength. This enables you to regain about 70 percent of your original biting force and to resume a healthier, more nutritious diet of the foods you love.
Jaw Bone
Success with dental implants depends largely on how firmly the jaw bone grows around the posts in a process called osseointegration. When the density of the jaw bone is sufficient, it can support as few as four implants for an entire arch. In other words, a strong jaw bone is able to stabilize fewer implants than a weak one.
Your Consultation
For many of these factors, you likely won’t know where you stand until you have a consultation with your dentist. During this appointment, they can evaluate your smile, take scans and other important images, and discuss your goals with you. Together you can create a customized treatment plan designed just for you. At that point, you can get a clearer idea of how many implants you need.
In the end, the best way to know what you can expect in terms of implant number is to schedule a consultation and address all these factors with your dentist. Contact them today to start your journey toward a more confident, stable smile!
About Beach Dental
At Beach Dental, Dr. Jason Parli and Dr. Alexis Gersten collectively have several decades of clinical experience and advanced training. They are proud to use the latest technology, like a cone beam CT scanner, to ensure success for even the most complex implant cases. Would you like to schedule an implant consultation with Dr. Parli or Dr. Gersten. You can contact Beach Dental through the website or by calling 631-325-0731.