Best Option for Missing Teeth Replacement

Best Option for Missing Teeth Replacement

There is a level of confidence that comes with a healthy smile that you are proud of and comfortable with. Losing one or more teeth has a way of making patients feel self-conscious and can lead to issues with speaking and eating. There are a number of reasons that adults may lose teeth, the most common being untreated tooth decay. Fortunately, there are several options available to patients to replace missing teeth!

While one option is simply doing nothing and leaving the open space, it is not the healthiest option. One missing tooth can lead to bone deterioration in the area which will eventually lead to the loss of more teeth. Gaps caused by tooth loss can allow remaining teeth to shift in an effort to close the space, leading to more spaces throughout the mouth. Let’s take a look at some options for replacing missing teeth.

Dentures and Dental Bridges
Traditional dentures are a great way for some patients to replace missing teeth. A denture can come in the form of a full denture or a partial denture, depending on the number of teeth that need to be replaced. Traditional dentures are removable for easy cleaning and maintenance and are often one of the most cost-effective options. A full denture replaces an entire arch of teeth on either the upper or lower arch, or in some cases, both. A partial denture replaces a few missing teeth in one area and can be placed on either arch. A dental bridge is a type of partial denture that is permanently cemented in place and cannot be removed by the patient.

Traditional denture can be very beneficial for patients who need a quick fix or those who cannot endure dental implant surgery. Dentures have a number of benefits but do have a few downfalls. For one, dentures are not nearly as natural looking as other replacement options. They can also allow the jawbone to deteriorate which then leads to an ill-fitting denture that can become uncomfortable and eventually need to be replaced. When the jawbone deteriorates, changes in the facial structure may become evident.

Dental Implants
A dental implant is a titanium, screw-like post that is surgically placed directly into the jawbone. Titanium is a biocompatible material that is used in a number of medical prosthetics because of its high success rate. The success rate of dental implants is between 95% and 97% for most patients. Dental implants are considered a permanent restoration and are much more comfortable and natural looking than other options. A dental implant can be used to replace one tooth or even multiple teeth, including a full arch!

Even though dental implants are a more expensive treatment initially, their long lifespan often allows patients the benefit of having one implant for the rest of their lives as opposed to a denture that needs to be replaced every 10 years or so. Dental implants are also considered one of the overall healthier options because the implant helps support bone structure and regeneration. The jawbone relies on tooth roots to stimulate growth regeneration and when a tooth is lost, that area of the bone can begin to weaken.

Implant-Supported Dentures and Bridges
While an implant crown replaces an individual tooth, an implant-supported bridge or denture is a great way to replace multiple teeth in one area. Depending on the number of teeth you need replaced, 1 to 6 or even 8 implants may be placed on one arch. Missing multiple teeth does not mean that you need to have one implant placed for each tooth. An implant can support multiple implant crowns.

An implant-supported denture, or all-on-four, is a beautiful way to restore an entire arch. Implant-supported dentures are incredibly natural looking and very comfortable for the patient. They cannot be removed by the patient because they are screwed into the implants so when you go in for your routine dental cleaning, your Dentist will remove the denture and the hygienist will proceed to clean the implants and the denture.