Dental Health Check with Dr. Linda Niessen
Dental health topics from Dr. Linda Niessen of Baylor College of Dentistry
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 Front Tooth Implant

By Dr. Linda Niessen
Monday, January 17, 2005

Advantages of New Implants 

The loss of a front tooth can be devastating. But it happens every day to victims of auto crashes, sports injuries, and other mishaps. Dr. Linda Niessen looks at a new type of dental implant now used to replace a missing tooth. Details in today's segment of Dental Health Check.

For more than 20 years, a childhood dental injury has caused problems for Leslie Love.

"When I was 14 or 15 years old, I was playing flag football with a lot of friends, and I got an elbow to the mouth so the tooth was knocked loose. And it resulted in having to have a root canal a few years later. And then about 10 years after that, the tooth became discolored and was dark gray. And it was pretty evident in pictures that it was getting darker and darker as the years went on." Leslie chose a dental implant to replace the central incisor. 

In most cases, the best solution to a missing front tooth is an implant. The procedure used to take months. Now it takes only days or a few weeks.

"Often times we're able to actually put a temporary crown on the implant the same day of implant placement. Therefore, the patient does not have to wear any type of temporary appliance," said Dr. Stephen Bass.

Dr. Bass, a Periodontist, says a dental implant helps patients avoid problems caused by bridges.
      
"If you are replacing a front tooth and you use a fixed bridge, you have to cut the adjacent teeth down and hook it (the bridge) on to it," Dr. Bass continued.

New implants integrate or attach quicker to the to the jawbone; have overall, higher success rates than older implants; and do a better job of preserving facial structure.

Dr. Bass added, "The investment is well worth it."

"And it's a great option. And one that I did not know anything about until I needed it," said Leslie Love.
     
The cost of a single implant and crown is comparable to a conventional bridge and can cost between three and four thousand dollars. However, a patient may save money in the long run because an implant may last years longer a bridge.

For Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas A & M System, I'm Dr. Linda Niessen, Channel 8 News.

Dr. Linda Niessen, clinical professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences and  the Office of Communications and Development at Baylor College of Dentistry, hosts Dental Health Check, the only weekly dental feature shot on location in the nation.

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