There are various things to consider when exploring your missing tooth replacement options. Factors like your budget, how many missing teeth you have, and the location of the missing teeth determine which teeth replacement restoration works best for you.
Some of the different oral prosthetics that can be used to replace missing teeth include dentures, bridges, and implants. There are also several hybrid oral prosthetics like implant-supported dentures.
Getting lost teeth replaced usually starts with a dental consultation. During the appointment, the dentist will go over the patient’s medical history, their budget, and what they want out of their replacement teeth.
The patient’s jaw and teeth are examined to determine which tooth replacement options would be ideal for them. For example, a person with three missing teeth in a row might be better off with a dental bridge instead of replacing all three missing teeth with implants.
Some of the oral prosthetics that might be recommended once a patient has been evaluated by a dentist include:
Implants are metal rods or screws that are inserted into the jawbone to serve as bases for dental restorations like crowns. They are the closest thing to real teeth as far as oral prosthetics are concerned. The implant fuses with tissues around it via osseointegration, making it virtually as stable as a real tooth. Implants are usually made out of titanium, one of the strongest metals ever discovered, and are designed to last a lifetime.
An implant can be used to replace a single tooth, and it can be combined with other prosthetics to replace multiple teeth. For example, implant-supported dentures can be used to replace up to five teeth in a row. The implants are inserted at both ends of the space, and the artificial teeth of the bridge cover up the rest.
The main drawbacks of implants include taking up to six months to complete the treatment and the fact it requires oral surgery. Some people are simply not healthy enough for surgical treatments.
Dentures are the most economical missing teeth replacement option, and they can be used to replace missing teeth in as little as two weeks. Getting dentures is also the least invasive process since it does not require any surgical procedures like implants or altering healthy teeth as is the case with crowns.
Getting dentures usually takes two trips to the clinic. The first visit is used to take an impression of the patient's teeth. The impression goes to a lab where technicians make the patient’s custom dentures. Patients come back for a second appointment once the customized dentures are ready.
Dental bridges are in between implants and dentures in terms of cost. They are more stable in the mouth than dentures, but they do not provide the bone-preserving properties of implants. One of the biggest drawbacks of bridges is making alterations to the teeth closest to the space left by missing teeth. The two teeth closest to the gap are used to anchor down the artificial teeth of the bridge.
Ready to get rid of the hole in your smile? Call or visit our Monroe clinic to set up an appointment.
Request an appointment here: https://monroe.premieroralsurgeryct.com or call Premier Oral Surgery & Implantology Center at (475) 474-6204 for an appointment in our Monroe office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Tooth Replacement in Monroe, CT.
A dental implant is a tooth replacement option that has been growing in popularity — and for good reason. Its long-lasting durability, seamless visual appeal, and jawbone stimulation make it useful in ways that most alternatives, such as dentures, cannot match. However, not everyone is a good candidate for a tooth implant.To understand whether an…
Impacted teeth are a common dental condition where a tooth fails to fully erupt into its proper position in the mouth. This can occur due to crowding, abnormal growth angles, or obstruction by other teeth. Oral surgery, performed by specially trained oral surgeons, plays a critical role in managing impacted teeth, especially when complications arise…
Your oral surgeon will recommend the right oral surgery for your needs. Each treatment corrects a specific issue and can enhance your oral health in different ways. Knowing these procedures can prepare you well for the next visits. Here are the common oral surgery procedures and how they can benefit you.The oral surgeon will recommend…
An oral surgeon is trained to complete a number of different procedures, most of them with the goal of saving your natural tooth. However, when a tooth is past saving, extraction may be necessary. An extraction is the removal of a tooth by an oral surgeon. Most extractions are due to medical reasons, although restorations…