Restoration Options for Missing Teeth

Missing a tooth does not just create inconvenience, it also damages your smile and ultimately shatters your confidence. It is even worse when you are missing multiple teeth. You feel embarrassed because of the gaps in the teeth. Furthermore, it can even disturb your facial structure. Regardless of the reason why you lost your teeth, it can put you in a bad situation down the road if you don’t get them replaced. Luckily, there are many restoration options for missing teeth available in the market. Let’s discuss some of the most preferred and popular ones. 

Dental Implants 

This is the strongest and most long-lasting restoration option for your missing teeth. It is also a widely used method because of its reliability and natural look. Dental implants ARE driven into your jawbone permanently through a surgical procedure. A permanent foundation is placed into the bone on top of which removable replacement teeth can be installed. 

Dental implants function just like normal teeth. Because they are customized to match the color of your existing teeth, dental implants are almost undetectable and look just like real teeth. They allow you to eat your favorite foods without any discomfort at all. You don’t have to go through the hassle of removing dentures every time you sit at the dinner table. They are permanent, durable, and last many years. 

The installation of a dental implant can be a somewhat lengthy surgical process. You have to go through a healing period. Moreover, this is one of the most expensive treatment options for teeth replacement. 

Dentures 

This is a simple solution to a complex problem. Dentures are removable and customized to fit in your mouth comfortably. If you are missing all of your teeth you can get a full set of dentures. On the other hand, if you still have most of your teeth intact, a partial denture is more suitable. 

This is one of the cheapest restoration options for missing teeth. You can get them repaired and replaced easily. It is one of the simplest procedures that you will find for teeth restoration. If you lose any teeth in the future, you can get a new set of dentures or add teeth to the existing one. 

Dentures can feel a little uncomfortable in the mouth if they are not the perfect fit. You also have to remove and clean them regularly. Furthermore, you have to remove them before eating or sleeping. While dentures do restore your smile, they do not appear perfectly natural. 

Dental Bridges

As the name suggests, this treatment bridges the gap between your teeth. It is most suitable when you have multiple teeth missing in a row. A bridge can be planted on either a pair of dental implants or your existing teeth surrounding the gap. 

In the case of an implant-supported bridge, two implants are screwed at both ends of the gap and a bridge is placed over them. This eliminates the need for screwing an implant for each tooth. The bridge functions almost as good as a dental implant. 

The second option is the bridge supported by teeth on either side of the gap. The adjacent teeth are filed to the appropriate size and a crown is placed on each one of them. This is a simpler option that requires no surgery and gives a realistic look. In terms of cost, this is the more economical option. 

While there are many benefits of dental bridges, they also need regular maintenance and cleaning. While eating, food particles can stick underneath the bridge. If not cleaned properly, you can face a risk of infection and bone loss. 

Contact your dentist in Fairfield, Dr. Zhu at Freedom Dental to learn more about orthodontics benefits for adults.

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