Replace Missing Teeth
Having one or more missing teeth can have a serious effect not only on your smile, but also on your dental health.
Specifically, missing teeth can cause:
- A shift in the alignment of your teeth?
- Increased risk of periodontal disease
- Increased risk of tooth decay
- Loss of adjacent teeth
- Speech disorders
- Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ)
Patients have three options to replace missing teeth:
1) Partial or Full Dentures- dentures are good because they can replace multiple teeth in the same appliance. They are also the most cost effective.
The disadvantage is that dentures can be taken in and out, and tend to be somewhat of a hassle. They also have a tenancy to be lost or broken and trap food during meals.
2) Bridges- bridges are liked over dentures because they are cemented into place and cannot be removed.
The disadvantage is the two teeth adjacent to the missing tooth must be prepared to allow the bridge to fit in your mouth. If those teeth are perfectly healthy it is sometimes hard to justify that procedure.
3) Implants- implants are the standard of care for missing teeth because they replace the missing tooth, do not effect the adjacent teeth, and cannot be removed. They are cleaned and maintained just like a real tooth.
The disadvantage is that implants require a separate surgical procedure, healing time, and tend to be the most expensive.
If you have missing teeth- Don’t Wait! Give us a call to discuss which option is best for you.
