Dental implants in Franklin and Edinburgh

What a missing tooth changes over time

A missing tooth affects more of your day than you might expect. Some foods become hard to chew properly, which can affect your nutrition. You may also start to feel self-conscious about talking or smiling in front of others.

The larger change happens where you cannot see it. Once the root is gone, the bone that held it has nothing left to support, and it begins to break down. That weakens the support for the teeth you still have. At the same time, your healthy teeth start to drift into the open space, which raises the risk of a misaligned bite and damage to those teeth.

That is why we encourage you to replace a missing tooth as soon as you can. One lost tooth can quickly lead to more.

An implant replaces the root as well as the tooth

A dental implant replaces both parts of a tooth: the root under the gum and the crown you see. No other way of replacing a tooth does both, and replacing the root is what protects the health of the rest of your mouth. Implants can replace one missing tooth or several, and each one goes in over several stages.

1. Dr. Corn plans where the implant will go ahead of time with 3-D x-rays, which makes the surgery more precise and efficient.
2. In a surgical procedure, he places a biocompatible titanium post into your bone to take the place of the root.
3. The post is given time to heal and bond with the bone, which gives your new tooth a firm, stable foundation.
4. He then fits a porcelain crown on the post, customized to match the shape and appearance of your natural tooth.

The finished implant works like a natural tooth. You can eat and chew with ease, and smile and talk with confidence again. Brushing and flossing around it is easy, so it is simple to look after.

Finding out whether an implant is right for you

Treatment begins with an implant consultation. Dr. Corn examines your mouth and takes x-rays to decide whether an implant will work for your situation.

If an implant is not the right fit for you, he can talk with you about other ways to replace the tooth, such as a bridge or dentures and partials.

You stay with Dr. Corn from surgery to crown

Many dentists send their patients to a specialist for the surgical part of implant treatment. Dr. Corn’s training lets him guide you through the whole process himself, from placing the post to fitting the crown, at our Franklin or Edinburgh office.

That is true whether you need a standard implant or a bone graft first. You stay with the same dentist and the same team the entire time, without being sent somewhere new for the surgery.

If a tooth is missing or failing, request an appointment for an implant consultation, or call our Franklin office at (317) 736-9546 or our Edinburgh office at (812) 220-2676.