A Long-Term Solution for Missing Teeth
Missing teeth can affect the way you eat, speak, smile, and feel about your appearance. At Crews Dental, we offer dental implant solutions for patients in St. Louis, Webster Groves, and the Greater St. Louis area who want a strong, natural-looking way to replace missing teeth.
A dental implant replaces the missing tooth root with a small post placed in the jawbone. After it integrates with the surrounding bone, the implant can support a custom crown, bridge, or denture.
Implant care is planned with your full oral health in mind. We evaluate the gums, bone support, bite, remaining teeth, jaw function, and long-term goals before recommending treatment.
Benefits of Dental Implants at Crews Dental
Patients often choose dental implants because they provide stable support and can feel more like natural teeth than removable options. Benefits may include:
- Natural-looking tooth replacement
- Strong chewing support
- A fixed option that does not slip during eating or speaking
- Preservation of neighboring teeth in many cases
- Support for bite balance and function
- Options for one tooth, several teeth, or a full arch
- Improved confidence when smiling and speaking
- Care and maintenance similar to natural teeth for many implant restorations
Implants are not right for every patient, but they can be an excellent long-term option when the mouth and overall health support treatment.
What Can Dental Implants Replace?
Dental implants can be used in several ways:
- A single implant and crown for one missing tooth
- Multiple implants to support several replacement teeth
- An implant-supported bridge for a larger gap
- Implant support for a removable denture
- Full-arch implant-supported tooth replacement
The type and number of implants needed depends on how many teeth are missing, bone support, bite forces, and the final restoration being planned.
Why Replace Missing Teeth?
When a tooth is lost, nearby teeth may begin to shift and chewing pressure can become uneven. Missing teeth can also affect speech, facial support, and confidence.
Replacing missing teeth helps restore function and can protect the balance of the rest of the smile.
Implant-supported teeth are especially stable because the restoration is supported from the jawbone rather than relying only on nearby teeth or the gums.
Are Dental Implants Right for Me?
Implant treatment begins with a careful evaluation. Important factors include:
- Healthy gums or controlled periodontal disease
- Adequate bone support for implant placement
- Overall health and medical history
- Smoking or tobacco use
- Oral hygiene habits
- Bite forces and clenching or grinding
- The condition of nearby teeth
- Your goals for a fixed or removable replacement
If bone support or gum health needs attention first, your treatment plan may include additional care before implant placement.
HOW Dental Implant Treatment Works
Implant treatment is completed in stages. After evaluation and treatment planning, the implant is placed in the jawbone. The area is then given time to heal so the implant can integrate with the bone.
Once the implant is ready to support a restoration, we take precise records and design the final crown, bridge, or denture. The completed restoration is checked for fit, appearance, bite, and comfort.
Treatment time varies based on the number of implants, healing, bone support, and the type of final restoration.
Dental Implants vs. Bridges or Dentures
Implants, bridges, and dentures can all replace missing teeth. A traditional bridge uses neighboring teeth for support, while a removable denture rests on the gums and remaining teeth. Dental implants are supported by the jawbone.
The best option depends on your oral health, number of missing teeth, bone support, treatment timeline, and personal preferences. We will help you compare the choices rather than assuming one treatment is right for everyone.
Caring for Dental Implants
Implants still require daily care. Brush and floss around implant restorations, keep up with professional cleanings, and attend routine exams so we can monitor the gums, bite, and supporting bone.
If you clench or grind, a night guard may be recommended to reduce excessive forces on the implant restoration and the rest of your teeth.