Every tooth is missing

We can lose teeth for all sorts of reasons. Most often it happens due to bacterial diseases and injuries. But losing any tooth is not only an aesthetic problem—it’s also a health issue.

Even though some people get used to the gap in their bite quite quickly and feel like it doesn’t bother them, this condition always represents a certain burden for the teeth.

“In addition to aesthetic defects, a missing tooth can also cause functional problems—for example, when chewing food. In the worst case, bone atrophy and collapse of the tooth row can occur because neighboring and opposing teeth may shift,” explains implantologist Libor Michna from the ArtDentistic dental clinic in Bratislava.

No replacement is just a replacement

If a patient is missing a tooth or several teeth, they can choose between multiple solutions—for example, opting for a conventional bridge or a removable denture.

“With the first alternative, the adjacent teeth are affected—when using a bridge, the tooth the replacement relies on is also involved, and at the same time both the soft and hard tissues under the bridge are affected,” implantologist Libor Michna points out.

From this perspective, placing a dental implant is a gentler solution. However, it’s not suitable for everyone, even though implantology options have advanced significantly in recent years.

Before the procedure, you need to undergo a comprehensive examination of the teeth, possibly the remaining parts, as well as the oral cavity. Patients are subjected to a CT scan, and the condition of both soft and hard tissues is also assessed.

“The patient’s health condition must be satisfactory before the procedure—it’s a surgical intervention, so we rely on 100% thoroughness. That’s precisely why implants also offer hope for patients suffering from periodontitis. We can help them too, but primarily we must focus on this disease first. Only then can we proceed with implants,” implantologist Libor Michna warns.

Full article available on SME: https://zena.sme.sk/c/20472984/stratu-zubov-dokazu-vyriesit-moderne-implantaty-ste-vhodnymi-kandidatmi.html