Missing teeth can cause a lot of oral health issues, not to mention affect the confidence you have in your appearance.
When a tooth’s been missing for a long time, it can lead to tooth alignment issues as the rest of your teeth migrate to compensate for the extra space. Moreover, patients can also deal with bone mass loss since the tooth is no longer present to stimulate the jaw.
Luckily, there are several ways to replace missing teeth, protect your long-term oral health, and get back a stunning smile.
Check out the top 3 types of tooth replacement options that could work for you:
1. Dental implants
Dental implants are artificial teeth that replace both the root and the crown of the missing tooth. They are extremely popular because they look and function just like regular teeth.
Dental implants look completely natural and allow patients to eat and speak normally. On the other hand, the metal post inserted into the jawbone helps stimulate the area and keep it from withering.
Moreover, implants can offer several degrees of restoration:
- Single implants: used to replace one missing tooth;
- Implant-supported bridges: can replace 2-3 missing teeth with one reconstruction. Patients receive one metal post and a bridge crown attached on top.
- Implant-supported bridges: are used to replace the parietal or entire arch. Patients get around four metal posts implanted into the bone, and a customized denture is attached to them to complete the restoration.
2. Dental Bridges
Dental bridges can simultaneously replace missing teeth and restore the strength and function of two damaged ones.
The prosthetic includes two traditional dental crowns (caps) that cover two natural teeth, with 1-2 tooth replacements in the middle.
Dental bridges are not recommended if the two anchor teeth are perfectly healthy, since the process involves reshaping the teeth so that the caps can effectively go on top.
But if these teeth are cracked, chipped, or have large cavities, they could be a great restoration solution.
3. Dentures
Dentures are a type of dental prosthesis used to restore the smile after severe tooth loss or dental damage.
They can either replace the full arch or just part of it, depending on the case. Patients are often weary about getting dentures because they are associated with high maintenance and unnatural results.
However, modern dentures are nothing like this. They are custom-made and can provide a comfortable solution for a natural-looking smile.
Which Tooth Replacement Procedure Is Right for You?
Before answering that question, Dr. Steve Hong will want to see you for a short consultation to assess your oral health and expectations.
This way, you can access a personalized plan to replace your missing teeth and restore the full look and function of your smile.
Request a visit to Rainier Smiles Dentistry online and stop by to learn more about your options.