How Many Teeth Can Implants Replace?
Dental implants are a remarkable solution to missing teeth because they do more than just replace the visible portion of teeth. They also function as artificial tooth roots, which means that they stimulate the jawbone and improve your bite force. However, you may ask, since natural teeth each have their own root, does that mean you need a dental implant for every missing tooth? The short answer is no. Let us explain about how many teeth can be replaced by one, two, or even more dental implants.
One Dental Implant
If you are missing just one tooth, your dentist will surgically place a single implant into your jawbone. After the implant has fused and bonded with the jawbone, you will receive a custom crown to replace the visible top portion of your lost tooth.
A single dental implant can be used to replace two adjacent teeth. Once the implant has integrated with your jawbone, your dentist will place a two-tooth restoration on top of the post. One replacement will be a crown, and the other unit will be a pontic, an artificial tooth that is attached to the crown.
Two Dental Implants
If you are missing three, four, or five teeth in a row, you will need at least two dental implants to support all of them. Your dentist will place one implant at each end of the gap. The implants will support crowns, and then the crowns will support one to three pontics between them. Thus, in total, two dental implants can support up to five replacement teeth.
Four or More Dental Implants
If you have lost all your teeth in an arch, it is possible to replace them with as few as four dental implants. This is possible with a procedure known as All-on-4. Your dentist inserts the implants at predetermined strategic locations in the jaw. Two go at the front of the mouth, and two are placed at an angle at the back of the mouth, in places where the jawbone is naturally strong and dense. This precise placement allows for the surgery to be as minimally invasive while still providing strong and stable support for the restoration.
You may not be a candidate for All-on-4, or you may prefer that your new teeth have more support than what four implants can provide. In this case, your dentist can insert six or more implants at various locations throughout your jawbone.
No matter how many teeth you are missing, dental implants could be the ideal solution for you. Your dentist will be happy to talk to you about how you can regain a mouth full of strong, fully functional teeth.
Some Benefits of Implant Supported Bridges
- This is a permanent tooth replacement that stays in your mouth.
- The implants will not decay like natural teeth bridges or crowns.
- They are easy to clean with a toothbrush, floss, and a water pick.
- Implants never have nerve problems or need root canals.
- Implants are exceptionally durable and strong.
- The implants stimulate the jawbone ensuring prolonged bone health.
- The implants deliver pressure sensations during biting and chewing and even temperature changes.