Dental Implant for One Missing Tooth


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If you require a dental implant for a single tooth, then rest assured that you will find the perfect alternative for you as there are a multitude of single tooth dental implant for every necessity and budget. As a matter of fact, these implants are amongst the most common dental implants in circulation with very high success rates. This procedure is very straightforward which creates a very natural look and smile. Furthermore, it requires no special care nor cleaning as they are effectively as if they were your natural teeth

Procedure

Placing an implant for a single tooth undergoes the same procedure if you were replacing multiple missing teeth. As a matter of fact, it starts with a tiny incision on your gum so that the dentist can reach your jawbone. He/she then drills a tiny whole in the bone where the implant will be placed through the incision. Usually, the implant will look like either a screw or a cylinder. After inserting the implant, the jaw is given a certain time to heal through ossointegration. This process ranges from 3 to 6 months depending on the width and strength of your jawbone. When the bone has finally fused with the implant, your dentist will then fix a small attachment to the implant through the original incision. This abutment will subsequently allow the restoration, crown or artificial tooth to be fixed permanently.


If, however, you require the new teeth imminently, then your dentist can fit the implant and the attachment in the same procedure, thus performing ‘immediate loading’ by bypassing the time required for ossointegration to occur. This process, however,  is more expensive and has higher failure rates than the traditional ‘two stage’ process. Nonetheless, if the procedure is performed by a highly trained dentist, and the materials of the implant, abutment and crown is good, the chances of allergic reaction or rejection are infinitesimal.   

Types of single tooth dental implants

It is of paramount importance for you to select, along with your dentist, which kind of implant would work best for your medical/cosmetic requirements and budget. There are several kinds of single tooth dental implants, and the main difference between them is based on which tooth needs replacement. For instance, the replacement of missing or loose teeth at the front of the mouth requires an ‘anterior implant crown’, whereas a missing lateral incisor will require a ‘maxillary lateral incisor’ replacement implant or if it is a central incisor then it will require instead a ‘maxillary central incisor’ implant.

The procedure used in order to fit single tooth dental implants is the same as for any implant. In addition to the information above, for this kind of implant, X-rays and CT scans might be performed so to show the exact location where an implant might be needed, and also to investigate signs of bone loss or resorption which can cause the cheeks to sag unnaturally. If this is the case, your dentist might suggest a potential bone grafting. ‘Immediate loading’ is also available for these implants given that your jaw is wide and strong enough. Nevertheless, this procedure has higher failure rates compared to the traditional ‘two-stage’ process as the implant and bone might not fuse well

Are single tooth dental implants expensive?

As a general rule, it costs less to get an implant which replaces several teeth. Therefore, an implant replacing 4 teeth will be less expensive than one replacing 3, and so on. If there is only one tooth to replace, a single tooth dental implant is one of the better option. Nevertheless, if there is a neighbouring loose tooth you might consider replacing that to avoid doing so in the future, and also to save money.

In the UK, the rough cost breakdown includes an initial check-up and consultation with x-rays and/or CT scan of around £50-£100, a root form implant of around £1,500 and a bone graft (if necessary) between £500 - £2,500. The costs of the restoration depend purely on the material it is made out of. Prices vary from dental practice to dental practice, and some include side procedures too such as taking a jaw impression. Furthermore, the ‘two stage’ process is usually cheaper than the ‘immediate loading’

Skills matters as much as the price

Some practices and dental practices unfortunately will charge prices which look overinflated compared to other quotes you might have collected. As a consequence, when comparing such quotes it is important to keep in mind that the surgeon’s reliability, experience and skill is, if anything, even more important than the effective implant material and model. It is therefore of paramount importance to strike the right ratio between fiscal convenience and the operating skill in discussion.

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