Tooth Replacement Options
Not many years ago, losing a tooth left you with few options for replacement. While permanent teeth should provide a lifetime of function, it doesn’t always end up that way. They may be lost from an accident, decay, or gum disease. Since teeth start as a full set, even one missing tooth may affect the whole makeup of your mouth’s delicate balance. As teeth slowly lean and migrate, wear and cracking from excessive forces often create escalating problems.
When it’s time to replace missing teeth, whether it’s one or a full set, several options might be available to you. Dental implants often give you the best opportunity to enjoy normal chewing and a full smile, although other options deserve consideration.
Tooth replacement offers more than aesthetic benefits:
- Add strength and stability to weak teeth
- Replace missing and or severely decayed teeth
- Prevent further tooth loss
- Alleviate tooth pain
- Improving the ability to eat healthy foods
- Improved speech and overall function
Tooth replacement options may include the following:
Dental Implants
If missing teeth are leaving you feeling self-conscious or you're wearing dentures that are uncomfortable, dental implants can be a very effective solution.
All-on-X® Dental Implants
The All-on-X® technique might be right for you! This technique uses four, strategically placed dental implants that allow a full-arch denture to be securely and permanently placed over them. You’ll be able to speak clearly and taste your favorite foods! They won’t slip or lift when you’re speaking, and they won’t get misplaced.
Dentures & Partial Dentures
Dentures are an affordable way to replace any number of missing teeth in your mouth. They have a long history of success and continue to earn a place in the list of options for rebuilding your smile. Full dentures are used when a person is missing all their natural teeth, while partial dentures replace only a few missing teeth here or there to eliminate gaps and improve chewing. Denture treatment is customized specifically to each patient, and Dr. Dbouk can help you decide which option works best for you.
Porcelain Bridges
Whenever you drive across a bridge, you’re being supported by the same principles that support a dental bridge. Crowned teeth on either side of a space are called abutments. Abutments support an artificial tooth, called a pontic. Fixed bridges are a non-removable option to replace missing teeth. They are strong and durable but will need to be replaced after many years.