There are millions of people across the country struggling with missing teeth. I don’t have to tell you that missing teeth are an eyesore. That goes without saying. But missing teeth also have a negative impact on your oral and overall health. Now, dentists have been replacing missing teeth for years — with different levels of success. Today, I want to look at some ways we can replace missing teeth. You should review all of the information and then decide which option fits your smile goals.

At Highland Advanced Dental Care, we offer a variety of ways to replace missing teeth.

Replace the gap in your smile with bridges

Even a single missing tooth can damage your smile and put your oral health at risk. We encourage patients to replace single missing teeth as soon as the problem arises. Dentists regularly replace missing teeth with dental bridges, restorations that literally bridge the gap created by the missing tooth. The restoration is composed of a series of three or more dental crowns. To place the restoration, we first restore the adjacent teeth that will support the appliance.

The biggest negative aspect of a dental bridge is that it requires use to file down healthy teeth, which makes it somewhat invasive.

Use Dentures to Replace Missing Teeth

Dentures are one of the oldest ways to replace missing teeth. In fact, dentures were around long before the modern age of dentistry, which was long before anyone knew about what caused missing teeth. Today we have better ways to restore your teeth with dentures. Our dentures are more comfortable and aesthetic than ever. Dentures are ideal for patients who do not have ample jaw bone levels for dental implants. Dentures successfully fill the gaps caused by missing teeth, but the chewing force is vastly different from natural teeth.

Studies have shown that dentures have only about 35 percent of the power of your natural teeth. Part of the reason dentures limit your biting power is because they are not secured in the jawbone. Additionally, when you lose your teeth, your jawbone will also recede. This physical change makes it difficult to find a good fit for removable dentures. In many cases, patients will need to realign their dentures several times to achieve the correct fit.

Replace Teeth or Secure Dentures With Dental Implants

Dental implants are one of the more versatile tools used in dentistry today. Using dental implants, we can replace single missing teeth or secure dentures in place. Dental implants only address the missing gap, do not require us to file down adjacent healthy teeth, and secure permanent replacement teeth. Dental implants secure teeth because they merge with the jawbone. The implant literally becomes part of your body. Once the implant has healed, it can be restored with either a crown, bridge, or denture.

Our office uses a special dental implant technique known as All-on-4 dental implants. This implant system is a great alternative for patients who are sick and tired of their removable dentures. Instead of using an implant for every missing tooth in the mouth, we strategically place four dental implants around each arch and then restore the implants with new, permanent teeth. The beauty of the All-on-4 dental implants is that the final upper restoration is open, allowing you to experience more tastes.

Dental implants also nearly have the power of your natural teeth, so there are no more food restrictions! Dental implants can secure your teeth and allow you to maintain a healthier diet. You also never have to worry about ill-fitting dentures again or having your teeth pop out of your mouth.

Our office has a solution for your missing teeth; it just depends on your budget and oral health goals. If you having missing or want to throw out your uncomfortable removable dentures, call our office today at 248-329-3552.