Treatment Options For Missing Teeth

treatment options
treatment options

 

By the time we reach our teenage years, most of us would have 32 teeth and that number might gradually start to decrease as we age. The good news is, today’s dental technology has advanced such that you now have quite a few options to choose from to replace your missing teeth such as instant teeth implants.

Cosmetically, it can be embarrassing when others notice the gaps between your teeth. But health-wise, when you leave it alone, you risk losing bone density at that area. Missing a tooth or more can cause discomfort and increase your risk of getting serious, chronic illnesses. When we are missing a tooth, it leaves room for our other teeth to move, thus impacting the bite of that entire side of the mouth. To lead a better quality of life, take a look at these three individual tooth replacement options that can solve your dental problem:

  • Dental bridges: Dental bridges are made of a false tooth suspended between two crowns, using the surrounding natural teeth to attach the false tooth in order to fill the lost tooth space.
  • Single tooth dental implants: While dental bridges anchors onto the nearby teeth to support the crown, these implants, on the other hand, replaces the tooth root with its titanium structure.
  • Mini dental implants: Sharing the same structure as regular implants, mini dental implants are a little smaller in form. Besides being a replacement for smaller teeth such as the lower incisors, some also prefer this option over regular dental implants as it can be more cost-effective.

 

For those missing multiple teeth or all teeth in an arch, that only means that there will be a lack of proper support in the skin around your mouth, which might lead to sagging skin and premature ageing in the near future. Your chewing capabilities will be affected and that will in turn compromise your digestion due to the difficulty faced with chewing your food. Here are three teeth restoration options for those who are missing teeth in the upper or/and lower jaw:

  • Dentures: Being the least invasive, dentures come in partial and full plastic or metal frameworks that are removable to enable cleaning. While it may have some impact on one’s speech, this option is beneficial for someone who experiences physical weakness and loss of function of parts of the body. As such, for someone who is unable to brush his own teeth himself, dentures would be helpful in such cases.
  • Implant-Supported Dentures: Implants are first placed in the jaw before full dentures are connected to it. Compared to conventional dentures, these are more comfortable. Additionally, they also better preserve your jaw bone to keep it healthy and intact.
  • All-On-4 Dental Implants: While implant-supported dentures may require some implants to securely anchor your new teeth, All-On-4 only need a minimum of four implants placed in the top and the bottom of your mouth. This is done before a full arch acrylic bridge is attached to the four implants. It will be a lot quicker as there is far less surgery involved and you can have fixed teeth on the day of the surgery itself.

If you are missing teeth or you have a parent, spouse or friend who is experiencing oral difficulty, we recommend to not delay getting a tooth replacement any further. Before it becomes difficult to chew even the softest of food, it is crucial to consult an experienced dentist as soon as possible. To regain the aesthetics of your smile and the functionality of your teeth, get more information on which procedure is most suitable for your condition by calling us today!

Benefits of Single – Tooth Dental Implants

Tooth loss is a common oral problem, especially as we age. But with today’s technology, there are many other good teeth replacement alternatives available such as single-tooth dental implants. If you are researching on solutions to regain your toothy smile, some things you can look into includes the single tooth dental implant cost and if you are suitable for it.  

But first things first, what is it? A single-tooth dental implants is an artificial tooth root made of titanium surgically placed into your jawbone. The implanted metal post will be anchored securely in the jaw as the jawbone heals and fuses with it. After this, the dentist will attach an abutment to the implant, which the artificial tooth will be placed on. The final outcome will be a replacement tooth that is not only natural-looking but will function like one of your own teeth.

For people who are missing one or more teeth, this might be a procedure that you can consider replacing both the natural tooth lost and its root. Take a look at some of these other benefits of single-tooth dental implants:

  1. It does not sacrifice the health of the surrounding teeth. This has to be one of the largest advantages because when comparing to a dental bridge, in order to attach a crown that can fill the missing tooth space, a dental bridge anchors on to one or more surrounding teeth for support. An implant not only replaces the root as well as the tooth, it provides the needed stimulation for natural bone growth. Additionally, dental implants will prevent the neighboring teeth from shifting position.
  2. Single-tooth dental implants are easier to clean. You simply have to clean it using standard tooth brushing and flossing techniques. Besides that, this treatment promotes better oral health as having a tooth gap leaves room for bacteria to get trapped in it, putting you at risk of gum disease.
  3. This procedure maintains your ability to taste food, not compromising your enjoyment for food. This is a definite pro as your palate may be covered by dentures, affecting the taste buds at the root of the mouth.
  4. With good care, your implant can last you for a lifetime. At Nuffield, the titanium structure of our implants is especially strong to withstand the forces of chewing. These implants are durable and designed to last, saving money that would have otherwise been spent on having to consistently replace and refit your dentures.

While it can be more expensive than dentures, you are making your money worth it through long-term benefits you get to enjoy. As we grow older, we have to gradually modify our eating habits, even to the extent of avoiding some of our favourite food. Even with dentures, there are those awkward moments when it falls out in the middle of a conversation.

If you are looking for a more comfortable, long-lasting solution, consider single-tooth dental implants as they alleviate the potential disadvantages you will be facing with dentures. And to ensure the best quality of the implant you are receiving, it is important to look for the right dentist. To see if you are suitable for this treatment, contact our dental professionals today.