These days, dental implant restorations are incredibly flexible and can be configured in a number of shapes and sizes. This means you’ll receive a 100% personalized replacement solution for your smile – and that you might be confused about how many dental implants it will take to complete your restoration.
The answer will depend on your unique dental situation, so keep reading to learn more and don’t forget to ask your implant dentist during your consultation!
Missing One Tooth
If you’re only missing one pearly white, then figuring out how many dental implants you need is pretty straightforward. A singular implant post is all it will take to support your restoration! Your dentist will top the post with a customized crown that will blend in seamlessly with your other teeth.
Missing Multiple Teeth
Replacing multiple teeth with dental implant restorations is just a bit trickier. If the gaps in your smile line up in a perfect row, your dentist can connect one or two implants to a bridge. A traditional bridge has a crown on either end that goes over the natural teeth to the left and right of a dental gap. The two crowns on an implant bridge, meanwhile, rest on implant posts instead.
For multiple missing teeth that are not in a row, your dentist can provide you with multiple single-tooth implants or attach a partial denture to two or more implant posts. Rest assured, your dentist will let you know which option is more cost-effective for you.
Missing an Entire Arch
The best way to replace an entire arch of teeth with a dental implant restoration is with a full implant denture. Like a partial implant denture, a full implant denture will ultimately be anchored down by multiple implant posts. Whether you’ll need four, six, or eight posts will depend on your facial anatomy.
Talk to Your Implant Dentist
At the end of the day, your implant dentist will be the best person to ask about the details of your treatment plan. After examining your mouth and viewing your X-rays, they’ll be able to tell you exactly how many dental implants it will take to complete your smile.
About the Author
Dr. Jasmine King has decades of experience in dentistry, and keeps her skills sharp through continuing education courses. She’s able to complete the entire dental implant treatment process in-office, meaning if you visit Summer Creek Dentistry for a dental implant replacement, you won’t have to worry about driving to multiple different practices. To see how many implants your smile will need, call Dr. King’s office at 817-292-7488 and schedule your consultation today!