North Mankato Family Dentistry
Drs. Angela Schuck & Keith Flack
Every Moment Brings Another Reason To Smile

Single Tooth Dental Implants

SINGLE TOOTH MISSING


When either the tooth and/or the root are damaged, the best permanent replacement is a dental implant in conjunction with a ceramic crown. This solution both looks and functions extremely similar to a natural tooth.

Implant replacement of a missing tooth consists of three components:

1) The implant or "artificial root that is surgically placed in the jawbone.

2) The custom abutment or component the crown is adhered to.

3) The all ceramic crown or "artificial tooth".

These  components are installed in phases according to the complexity of the case, patient healing and esthitics.

.Benefits of an all ceramic crown on implant: 

  • Naturally feeling and functioning teeth
  • Excellent esthetic result
  • Extremely stable solution with proven longevity

 

 INSTALLING THE NEW TOOTH – STEP-BY-STEP

The course of treatment described here is one of several options available. Consult Dr. Flack or Dr. Schuck to find out what the best solution is for you, given your specific condition.

   
1: Before the procedure
The dentist performs a thorough examination and obtains a 3D jaw scan in order to plan the implant placement in the jaw. The proper type of implant is selected according to available bone and proximity to adjacent teeth, sinuses, nerves and vessels.		 2: Installing the implant
The gums are comfortably altered so the implant can be placed in the bone. A healing abutment protects the implant and trains the gums for the future crown. The implant will need 3-4 months to integrate with the jawbone before the crown impression is taken. 
   
3: Records for the future crown
In order to customize your treatment, photos, models and records are needed. Either a digital or standard impression is taken depending on the case, paying high attention to function and esthetics. 		 4: Attaching the new crown
The final visit includes fastening the custom abutment to the implant which is the component that emerges from your gums. Once fit, proper contacts, occlusion and esthetics are confirmed, the crown is adhered and your new tooth is ready for use. 

 
ALTERNATIVES TO AN ALL-CERAMIC CROWN ON IMPLANT

  Tooth-supported fixed bridge
A traditional bridge involves selective grinding of adjacent teeth to support the bridge on either side of the missing tooth. It is a stable solution with good esthetics and can make financial sense if the adjacent teeth have large fillings or are damages. However, this alternative has four main disadvantages 1) Continuous bone resorption in the edentulous area. 2) Sacrificing healthy teeth on behalf of the bridge. 3) Possibility of irritation to the nerve. 4) Susceptibility to root decay. 
  Removable partial denture
This is not a permanent alternative to a lost tooth. It is unstable and loosely attached, which affects both function and comfort. A removable partial denture is made of acrylic or plastic, materials that cannot create the same esthetic result as a ceramic crowns. The benefits are few but do exist: 1) Adjacent teeth aren't affected. 2) Multiple missing teeth can be included. 3)  Relatively lower cost.
  Resin-bonded bridge
This alternative can have some longevity disadvantages. The resin-bonded bridge will eventually come off (probably after just a couple of years) and will then have to be reinstalled.

 

Contact Us

We encourage you to contact us with any questions or comments you may have. Please call our office at (507) 625-2273 or use the quick contact form below.

Testimonials

To Drs/ Staff at N.M.F.D.

Somehow just reimbursing you for services rendered seems inadequate, at best. Thank you so very much for all the special care you give to make my visits comfortable to me, this is simply priceless.

From the moment I call through the moment I leave the clinic- I feel welcome and important. I so appreciate modern technology and your efforts to keep procedures pain-free. It is also refreshing to see an office that is organized, prompt, and clean, and obviously has employees that enjoy their work and their co-workers.

C. Olson St. Peter

I put off going to the dentist for many years because of the pain of just touching them.

When I was a child the dentist slapped me 'cause I was crying 'cause it hurt. He said, "it don't hurt that bad", but he did not have my mouth. When I was 23 I got a full upper plate (denture) and a partial on the bottom and never went back until I needed an anchor tooth removed. I had the oral surgeon do it 'cause they would put me to sleep.

15 years later I heard about relaxed dentistry from the radio and a couple of kids at work. I knew I needed to have things done and paid for before I retired, so I made the appointment and I had a new full upper and new partial. No Pain!. They used the "Wand" for Novocain so if there is pain you do not even know it. I even has a root canal and don't remember anything. It was Great!!

H. Hager Mankato

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