Have you lost a tooth? Is it difficult for you to eat certain foods, or are you self-conscious about your appearance? You may be a candidate for dental implant surgery, a relatively common procedure that can provide you with a replacement tooth that will feel, look, and function just like a natural tooth.

Many people lose teeth due to accidents, gum disease, failed root canals, or decay. Unfortunately, once a tooth has been lost, the alveolar bone in the jaw that supports the teeth can disintegrate, and this in turn can affect the whole structure of the face and jaw. An individual’s appearance can be altered, or they may look prematurely old. In addition, the remaining teeth can be negatively affected, causing issues with alignment that can result in difficulty in chewing and eating. If you’ve lost a tooth, time is of the essence! And the best option for replacing a lost tooth is often dental implant surgery in the GTA.

Archeologists discovered evidence of dental implants in China as early as 2,000 BC, where bamboo shoots were used to replace missing teeth, as well as in ancient Egypt, where a pharaoh with a copper peg tooth replacement was found. But the modern era of dental implants began in 1965, when the first titanium implant was made by a Swedish surgeon named Per-Ingvar Branemark. In Canada, the number of dental implants has skyrocketed in recent decades, as dental professionals and their patients have discovered the many benefits of this procedure. A dental implant provides the patient with a fully functioning tooth, and the procedure has an extremely high rate of success.

Some dentists perform this surgery, but more often than not, you’ll be sent to a specialist such as a periodontist. First, x-rays will be taken to make sure that a dental implant is the best solution for you. Next, a screw or post made of titanium will be implanted into the jawbone. The titanium will fuse with the bone over a period of months, and the tissue will heal. Once that has happened, a replacement tooth will be attached to an "abutment” or small metal post that is attached to the implant. The fitting of the new tooth may take several sessions, since it is an exacting process.

What is a periodontist and how can you find one? According to the Canadian Academy of Periodontology, periodontics is the dental specialty dealing with "the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of periodontal and peri-implant diseases.” Periodontists receive a substantial amount of additional training over and above that of dentists, and are therefore able to achieve optimal results with procedures such as dental implants, gum grafts, frenectomies, or crown lengthening.

Your regular dentist may recommend a periodontist found in the GTA, or you may wish to do some research to find one who fits your needs. If you suffer anxiety surrounding dental work, you should look for a periodontist who focuses on patient comfort, and whose practice has a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Their websites can be great sources of information about local periodontists, as can patient reviews.

Get your smile back – find a periodontist and replace missing teeth with effective and natural-looking dental implants! Contact a dental implant surgeon in the GTA today.