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Missing teeth are a fact of life, whether through trauma or disease. Fortunately, modern dentistry has many methods to replace these teeth in ways that look and feel natural. Beyond the aesthetic benefits, these solutions offer practical advantages in daily life.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common dental treatments for replacing your missing teeth.
Fixed Options
Fixed dental prostheses are a common way to replace some missing teeth in a way that looks and feels natural without being able to be removed. There are many common methods, and which method works for you depends on many factors.
· Conventional “Bridges”
Tooth-supported bridges are the conventional way to replace your missing teeth, using your existing teeth as supports. A bridge consists of a prosthetic tooth (or teeth) that is attached to 2 crowns, or “jackets,” and the jackets slip over the teeth on either side of a single (or larger) tooth space, and are cemented onto them. The space is now restored with the prosthetic tooth (or teeth). The supports and fake tooth/teeth look completely natural, and only a trained eye can tell that you have have any fake teeth. This procedure is normally completed over a few visits.
· Implant-Retained Crown
The latest development in restorative dentistry is the implant-retained crown.
Implant-retained crowns can provide stunning results where teeth have been lost, either through trauma or disease. They are replacing bridges as the treatment of choice for missing teeth as they do not require adjustment to adjacent teeth. An implant is a titanium root that is surgically placed into the bone, and after an appropriate amount of time spent waiting for the titanium to bond to the bone, a crown can be anchored onto the implant to replace the missing tooth.
· Implant-Retained Bridges
For replacing multiple missing teeth in a row, an implant-supported bridge is ideal.
Replacing each individual tooth with an implant and crown is a costly and unnecessary process when implant-retained bridges are available to accomplish the same result with less work being done. This method uses a bridge that is anchored to 2 or more implants rather than your natural teeth.
Removable Options
Removable options, also known as dentures, provide a reliable option for replacing missing teeth, and are able to be removed.
· Complete Denture
Complete dentures are what people normally think of as dentures, also known as “false teeth.” They are dental prostheses that replace all the teeth in your mouth and are fully removable.
Complete dentures are usually manufactured from acrylic.
· Implant Retained Complete Denture
Implant-retained dentures are dentures that are fixed in place using multiple implants.
An implant is inserted into the jawbone, with the denture then being clipped onto them. It provides more stability than a traditional denture and helps to prevent loss of bone density in the jaw.
· Removable Partial Denture
If you need to replace only some of your teeth, you may be a prime candidate for removable partial dentures.
Partial dentures consist of replacement teeth that are attached to a natural-looking pink acrylic base, metal substructure, or a combination of the two. Your remaining natural teeth will stabilize and hold the removable plastic base in place with the use of metal or plastic claps.
The dentures will be designed to match the colour of your gums and natural teeth. These partial dentures are a good option if you need to replace multiple teeth in multiple parts of your mouth, and you are not able to afford a fixed option.
Replacing Missing Teeth in Hamilton
Olivieri Dental offers a range of prosthodontics services to help replace the missing teeth. Whatever option works best for you, we can give you your smile back.
We are a multi-generational practice that has been providing support for patients in Hamilton since 1976. Contact us today to book an appointment.