One implant and a crown in place of one missing tooth.
A natural tooth is anchored into the jawbone by its tooth root. Tooth roots attach firmly to the jawbone and keep your teeth stable when chewing solid foods.
Traditionally, if you were missing a tooth or if one needed to be extracted, the healthy teeth on either side of the missing tooth would be cut down and the whole thing replaced with a three-crown "bridge."
Dental implants are the modern alternative. Instead of cutting down two perfectly healthy teeth, Dr. Chu inserts a dental post (dental implant) into the jawbone to replace your missing tooth root. This post becomes solidly fixed into your jaw (like a natural tooth root). Your general dentist then places a crown onto this artificial tooth root that looks, feels, and functions like your natural teeth.
Quite simply, dental implants are the most natural replacement for missing teeth.
When one tooth is missing, Dr. Chu can evaluate whether an implant is the right way to replace both the root and the visible tooth. The implant is placed in the jawbone, then your restorative dentist completes the tooth with an abutment and crown.
The plan starts with a cone beam CT scan taken here in Victorville. Dr. Chu uses your scan to look at the available bone, explain the sequence, and show you what the appointment will involve before anything is scheduled.
If the area needs more support first, Dr. Chu will explain whether socket preservation or another graft should come before implant placement.