Single Tooth Missing Loss
A three-unit fixed bridge is the most common treatment of choice for the replacement of one missing tooth. Treatment time is one to two weeks and many times can be satisfactory when it comes to function, speech, and cosmetics. Major disadvantages with this popular treatment are that the supporting teeth must be “drilled” and compromised to accomplish this. Root canals, root canal failures, decay, and tooth fractures are common reasons why these three-unit fixed bridges fail. Now the supporting abutment teeth are severely damaged or lost and the problem has become significantly worse. These supporting abutment teeth are lost about 30% of the time within 14 years. On average over 80% of abutment teeth used to support a bridge have no fillings or decay or minimally restored. Doesn’t it sound like a great idea not to subject your good healthy teeth to decay, root canals, fractures and extraction if you don’t have to. Yes, yes, yes!

Single-Tooth Implants
The option of utilizing a single dental implant to replace a single missing tooth eliminates the risks to your perfectly good healthy teeth. Many times dentists and or patients are swayed by insurance companies to accept a three-unit fixed bridge to replace the missing tooth. Reduced treatment time as I stated can be attractive until those abutment teeth are lost and treatment time multiplies and treatment cost multiplies.
Single implant use to replace a missing tooth is by far the most predictable method to replace a missing tooth. Cosmetics many times are greatly improved because the natural adjacent teeth are untouched. Even in the case where adjacent teeth required root canals or crowns, the implant use to replace the missing tooth is far better because we haven’t tied the entire success together. Single tooth implant represents the treatment of choice to replace a single tooth.
I have been a dentist in Quincy since 1978. I graduated Misch Surgical Institute and achieved Fellowship status int he International Congress of Oral Implantology.
Dr Steve