As we age, our teeth become more brittle. As a result, fracture lines can form and teeth can break, frequently at the gum line. This process is accelerated if you have had a root canal or your teeth have been veneered or crowned. If this happens, many times it is not possible to save the tooth.
As improbable as it sounds, it is sometimes possible to remove a single tooth, place a dental implant and within 2 days, have a natural appearing tooth attached to the implant. This is possible because of improved implant materials and design and our expanding knowledge of the biology of bone healing and implant integration.
What this means for you is that should you have the unsettling experience of breaking a front tooth, if everything goes as expected, you can have a replacement tooth that is both fixed and very aesthetic. This avoids the need for wearing a removable tooth replacement appliance that can be uncomfortable and negatively impact the long-term result.
Even though the tooth replacement can look much like the natural tooth it replaced, it is not ready to function like a normal tooth. It takes 2-4 months for the implant to integrated with the bone before you can use it normally. During that time, you will have to chew carefully and avoid biting in the area of the tooth.
If you find yourself breaking a tooth and don’t know what to do next, contact your dentist or give us a call and we can quickly determine if you are a good candidate for immediate tooth replacement.
