Missing one or several teeth can negatively impact your dental health, as well as your confidence. The good news is that you no longer have to live with missing teeth. There are amazing dental restorative options that can help you restore missing teeth.
Dental implants are an excellent restorative option for patients who lost teeth due to advanced disease, decay or accident. There are different types of restoration options that can be paired with dental implants to restore a single or more missing teeth or a full arch. Dental crowns, dentures and bridges are common dental implant restoration options. The right option depends on the number of missing teeth, dental condition and the needs of the patient.
Implant-supported Crowns
When you have severely damaged teeth that can’t be fixed with dental crowns alone, a dental implant combined with a dental crown is a solution to restore the strength and function of your teeth.
A dental implant will be installed within your jaw bone, which will then be left for three to six months to heal and naturally fuse with the jawbone. After the implant is healed, a permanent dental crown will be attached on top of the implant. The dental implant will replace and restore the structure of your original tooth, and the dental crown will improve your smile and function of your teeth such as biting, chewing and eating.
Implant-supported Dentures
When missing a full arch or both arches of teeth, the dental expert may recommend pairing implants with dentures.
In this method, usually four to six implants are attached in the jawbone. The implants are typically titanium screws, which are given time to naturally fuse with the jawbone tissues. Once the implants are properly fused to the jawbone, a personalized set of dentures is attached onto the implants.
The implants securely hold the dentures, allowing you to chew and eat food. By stimulating the gums, the implants also help prevent bone tissue loss. The dentures also look and feel natural in the mouth.
Implant-supported Bridges
If more than one tooth in a row is missing, an implant-supported bridge is a secure and permanent restoration option.
They involve attaching as few as two anchor points (usually titanium posts) to support one or more crowns. The number of posts needed depends on the size of the bridge. Unlike the traditional bridges method in which the prosthetic teeth rely on the surrounding teeth, the implant-retained bridges are directly anchored to the jawbone. This makes them extremely stable and long-lasting.
If you are concerned about how you look with gaps in your smile, or how it’s affecting you in daily tasks like eating, talking and smiling, then a dental implant restoration can definitely help you. Reach the dental experts at Southshore Dental. Whether you are missing a tooth or several teeth, we can help you. We have a team of trained dentists specializing in dental implants. Call today so we can work together to get the best dental implant restoration for you underway.
