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the single tooth implant:
In
the "old days" of dental care, if you were to lose one tooth, your choices
of replacement were quite limited. Now, with the possibilities
available using implant therapy, your missing tooth can be replaced
without you having to deal with extra, bulky hardware in your mouth, as
well as not having to have any other teeth modified or crowned. |
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| Your single missing tooth can be replaced by
these two methods that involve minimal reduction of your tooth enamel . . . |
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The resin retained bridge, or
"Maryland Bridge" is somewhat weak, and still requires some of your tooth
structure to be removed |
A partial denture, while a useful
dental appliance for the replacement of many teeth, is extremely bulky just for the
replacement of one tooth. |
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Another way to replace your single tooth is
with the conventional fixed bridge, in which about 1 to 2 mm of tooth enamel is removed to
prepare for high-strength crowns which will, in turn, anchor your bridge. |
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The conventional, "crown
retained" bridge is currently the most common method used and is, in many cases,
still the appropriate approach. |
Once your bridge is placed, it
looks and functions like your natural teeth. The decision of whether use this kind
of a bridge or an implant involves many factors, all of which can be discussed during your
consultation. |
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Your
implant is placed during an extremely gentle surgery; a surgery that most people
report is less involved than a tooth extraction. The implant remains hidden in place
for several months. |
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After
the implant has had time to integrate (fuse) with the bone tissue, a second, even smaller,
surgery is performed to connect the abutment to your implant. Shortly thereafter,
Dr. Hart makes a crown that fits the implant perfectly. |
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Your
final implant retained crown (or "cap"...caps and crowns are really two terms
for the same thing) exists in harmony with the rest of your teeth. The appearance,
feel, and function of your new crown is virtually identical to a natural tooth! |
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