When a patient suffers any degree of tooth loss, dentists are quick to recommend dental implants in Houston as the best tooth replacement solution. Implants serve as prosthetic tooth roots, and they offer many benefits. For example, they are sturdy, long-lasting, and aesthetically pleasing. Still, since the implant procedure requires a surgery, many patients wonder how many dental implants they can get at once. Let’s talk about how many implants you might need and what your treatment process might look like.
How Many Implants Do You Need?
Every dental implant case is unique, and your oral surgeon will carefully plan your procedure according to your circumstances. With that being said, it is possible to provide a general overview of how many implants you might need:
- If you are missing one tooth, your treatment will be pretty straightforward. You’ll receive a single dental implant to support a single crown.
- If you are missing two or more teeth in a row, you’ll likely receive an implant-supported bridge. A bridge that replaces two teeth usually needs just one implant. A bridge that replaces three or more teeth will need at least two implants.
- If you are missing an entire arch of teeth, you might need as few as two implants to support a removable implant-retained overdenture. It is also possible that you will need four implants to provide a base for a permanently fixed full-arch bridge. In some cases, six or more implants are necessary for full-arch replacement.
The Implant Surgery
For most patients, it is possible to place all necessary implants in a single appointment. In some cases, a patient can even receive implants and prosthetic teeth at the same time, via a treatment like All-on-4 or Teeth-in-an-Hour.
If you are completely edentulous (missing all teeth), your surgeon might recommend that you have separate procedures to replace your upper and lower dental arches. However, it is often possible to replace both arches at the same time.
Your Implant Journey
As you can see from the above information, there are many factors that go into determining what each patient’s dental implant journey will be like. In addition to the number of missing teeth, an oral surgeon must also consider a patient’s overall health, the bone density in their jaw, the state of their gums, and much more.
The only way to know for certain what you can expect from dental implant replacement is to consult with a qualified doctor. After they examine your mouth and take some images, they’ll be able to plan your treatment and answer all your questions about the road ahead of you. Hopefully, it will not be long before you once gain have a complete, confident, and healthy smile!
About the Author
Dr. Steve L. Koo received Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1999 from the University of Texas Health Science Center. After graduation, he went on to complete a residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Throughout the years, he has gained a reputation for providing truly excellent care. A few years ago, he was even voted as a Texas Super Dentist! He is an expert in dental implants and would be happy to answer any questions you have about them. To learn more about Dr. Koo and his services, contact our team at 713-597-7340.