Missing Teeth Replacement

Missing teeth

Living with missing teeth, especially when it is clearly visible, can really do a lot of harm in your self esteem and confidence. That is why it is very important to have a complete set of teeth to regain your smile, your self esteem and the quality you want to have in your life. The best way to do this is to replace your missing teeth by one of these options:

• Dental Implants
• Bridges
• Removable appliances such as Partials or Dentures

Let’s take a closer look at what dentures, bridges and dental implants are:

Partials

Partials or dentures are oral appliance that are removable and are made of acrylic. They are cost effective so most people often choose this method of replacing their lost teeth. However, there is a downside – they are notorious when it comes to perfect fit. When you use partials or dentures that do not fit well, they can be uncomfortable and may injure your gums when they are too loose. They also have the tendency to move when you speak or eat which may bring you to a very awkward situation.

Dental Bridge

A dental bridge, on the other hand, is a fixed appliance. A bridge is cemented or bonded to your teeth, adjacent to your missing teeth or tooth. The disadvantage to this method of replacing your teeth is that the procedure involves cutting down on your adjacent teeth in order to replace the missing tooth or teeth. The procedure is usually done in 2 visits. One visit the adjacent teeth are prepped, impression is taken and a temporary bridge is cemented. The impression is sent to the dental laboratory and they fabricate the bridge and then on your second visit it is cemented or bonded to your teeth.

Dental Implants

And so, that leaves to having dental implants. While a lot of people heard about it, not everyone really know what a dental implant is. Of course, this is another method of replacing your missing tooth or teeth but unlike partials or dentures, it is more of a permanent replacement and doesn’t move around.

These teeth replacements are made with titanium screws small enough so it can be attached to your jaw bone replacing the roots of your teeth. The abutment, the small post is then connected as a support to the porcelain crown of the implants. Then a crown is fabricated by the dental laoratory and is cemented or bonded to the implant by your dentist.

It used to take a lot of time, from 3 months to a year, to complete this procedure of replacing your teeth. But with modern technology and improved techniques, this can now be achieved a lot faster than it used to be. In fact, some implant procedures can be done at the very first appointment for your surgical procedure.

How Dental Implant is done?

This is actually quite a straightforward procedure that is often done under local anesthesia. If you have low tolerance with pain or get nervous easily, you can have this procedure under conscious sedation. In the end, the complexity and number of surgical appointments differ with each case.

While dental implants are highly recommended and are the best option for replacing your teeth, there are cases that this procedure might not suit you. That is why it is best to seek out only experienced and highly qualified Implant Surgeon’s advice when it comes to replacing your missing teeth. They will do a thorough examination of your supporting bone structure and let you know if you are a good candidate for use of implants. They will also go over the any complications. If you are a candidate, then he/she will do the surgical placement of the implant and then your general dentist will follow up with performing the implant crown.

Here is a video on options for replacing teeth:

For more information on options for replacing missing teeth and what option is best for you, please call our office and schedule a consultation and Dr. Zinati will go over all your questions at (323) 771-7254.

By: Ladan Zinati