After tooth loss, the obvious esthetic dilemma and the challenges with eating are the first concerns most people have. One of the biggest unrealized problems people face is the shrinkage or loss of the bone in the area due to lack of use. Teeth transmit the energy of chewing to the bone which helps maintain the bone health in the area. If a bridge or a removable appliance is made to replace the missing tooth this problem does not go away. The force is simply transferred to the other teeth and bone in the area still resorbs. Sometimes, the other teeth suffer from the increased loads.

A dental implant is simply a tooth root replacement. It can be used to attach a new tooth or crown in it's simplest application. The implant, with it's crown, transmits chewing energy to the bone, like a natural tooth, and prevents the loss of bone.

These implants or root replacements, can actually do many things besides providing anchorage to a crown. Implants can help hold and stabilize a denture or other removable appliance. They can also serve as anchors for a bridge to replace multiple teeth. Certain specialized implants can serve as anchorage to help with orthodontic tooth movement. In all these applications, though, they maintain bone health through this transfer of chewing energy which the bone needs for proper long term maintenance.

Implants have been around for many years and their success has been well documented. They are now widely accepted as the standard of care for the replacement of missing teeth!