Classic single-tooth gaps certainly constitute good indications for a dental implant. If one were to count on a conventional bridge, the neighboring teeth would need to be grinded and serve as the bridge’s supporting pillars. Generally speaking, time and energy can be saved whenever the neighboring teeth have already been crowned. In the case of healthy teeth, invasive operations like these, particularly in the front tooth region, should be avoided whenever possible.
Apart from that, there is one more significant disadvantage we need to be aware of: By means of functional loading in the form of “bone training“, the tooth prevents bone loss and keeps the bone in place, whereas the bone recedes whenever there is a lack of functional loading as a result of tooth loss. Basically, this situation is similar to that of a muscle: Whenever muscles are trained, they remain strong or even grow, whereas they recede in the case of illness or lack of training (atrophy). The same goes for bones. The implant exerts functional loading, which is why, in turn, the bone is maintained.
For these reasons, the number of cases in which implants have come into play as an adequate treatment for single-tooth gaps has steadily increased within the past few years.