Dental Implants in Mid Coast Maine: Brenda’s Story
Dental Implants in Mid Coast Maine: Brenda’s Story
Brenda is one of our beloved dental assistants at Seasons of Smiles. Originally from Chicago, she spent her childhood summers visiting family in the Mid Coast. Because of her deep love for this area, Brenda moved to Camden, ME five years ago with her husband, Tim, her three children, and her two poodles.
One day, while Brenda was looking at job listings, she saw our ad for a dental assistant position. Fortunately for us, she applied – and the rest, as they say, is history. All of our patients love her. In fact, we can’t imagine our team without her!
As you can see, Brenda has a beautiful, radiant smile. However, she was missing a single molar tooth. Even though the gap wasn’t visible when she smiled, she knew that leaving it “as is” could lead to a host of more serious dental problems, such as shifting, mobility, and bite issues. So, Brenda started thinking about a dental implant to replace her missing tooth. And of course, we were excited to walk with her on her journey.
If you are missing a tooth and would like to learn more about dental implants in Mid Coast, Maine, call Seasons of Smiles at (207) 236-4740. Dr. Norman Medina can help determine the right treatment plan for you.
The Importance of Replacing a Missing Tooth
Patients often ask us if it’s necessary to replace a missing tooth. With a few exceptions, the answer is an emphatic “yes”. A full set of teeth pave the way to a proper bite, which is essential for optimal oral health. A small space in your smile is okay for a few months. But after a while, the neighboring teeth begin to shift in an effort to “fill in” the gap. Therefore, it’s best to address a missing tooth right away to avoid more complex problems in the future.
In Brenda’s case, she was missing tooth #30, which is the lower right first molar. Most chewing function takes place from the first molar, forward. So, replacing this tooth was extremely important. The molars are responsible for grinding food into small pieces for easier digestion.
Brenda’s Dental Implant Placement
Before Brenda’s smile could be completed, we needed to place a dental implant into the jawbone. Implants are the only restorations that replace missing teeth roots. This is significant. Implants stimulate nerves in the jaw the same way that natural teeth roots do. As a result, existing bone is preserved, and the risk of future bone degradation is reduced.
Now, once the implant surgery was complete, Brenda had to heal for a few months before the final crown could be attached. Why? Because we needed adequate time to allow the bone tissue to fuse to the post. This process, called osseointegration, is responsible for stability and the long-term success of the implant.
Restoring Brenda’s Dental Implant
Once osseointegration had occurred, we added a small connector post (an abutment) to the dental implant. (This portion extends slightly beyond the gum line, and serves as an anchor for the crown.) Next, we took impressions, which were used to create Brenda’s dental crown. Finally, we bonded the crown into place. As you can see from the video, the results were incredibly lifelike.
Learn More about Dental Implants in Mid Coast Maine
Now Brenda can enjoy improved health and function, and a better quality of life. If you would like to learn more about dental implants in Mid Coast Maine – or if you want to schedule an appointment at Seasons of Smiles – contact us online anytime or give us a call at (207) 236-4740.