Dental implants are a transformative solution for restoring missing teeth, but determining how many you’ll need depends on several factors, including the number of missing teeth, your overall oral health, and the type of restoration desired. Here’s more information about the three main considerations involved in this decision.
Single Tooth Replacement
For individuals missing one tooth, a single dental implant is usually sufficient. The implant acts as an artificial root, and a custom crown is attached to restore the look and function of the tooth. This approach ensures stability and prevents bone loss in the surrounding area. It’s a straightforward option with excellent long-term success rates, often making it the go-to choice for isolated tooth loss.
Multiple Teeth Replacement
When multiple teeth are missing, the number of implants required depends on their location and the type of restoration. For example, if two or three adjacent teeth are missing, we may recommend using two implants to anchor a dental bridge. This minimizes the number of implants needed while providing a strong and stable restoration. In cases where teeth are missing in non-adjacent areas, individual implants or a combination of implants and bridges may be used to fill the gaps effectively.
Full Arch Restoration
For patients missing most or all of their teeth in one arch, full arch restoration techniques like All-on-4® or All-on-6® implants are highly effective. These methods use four to six strategically placed implants to support a full denture or fixed bridge. This approach reduces the total number of implants needed compared to replacing each tooth individually, while still delivering natural-looking and functional results. It’s a cost-efficient and less invasive solution for comprehensive tooth loss.
About the Author
Dr. Brian Lavery has seen firsthand what dental implants are capable of after placing hundreds of them, and in his expansive experience with this dental treatment he’s learned a lot about how to make the process of tooth replacement as easy as possible. Dr. Lavery received his dental degree from the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine.
If you have any questions about dental implants, he can be reached at his website or by phone at (609) 588-5600.