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Tooth Replacement
Not many years ago, losing a tooth left you with few options for replacement. While permanent teeth should provide a lifetime of function, it doesn't always end up that way. They may be lost from an accident, decay, or gum disease. Since teeth start as a full set, even one missing tooth may affect the whole makeup of your mouth's delicate balance. As teeth slowly lean and migrate, wear and cracking from excessive forces often create escalating problems.
When it’s time to replace missing teeth, whether it’s one or a full set, several options might be available to you. Dental implants often give you the best opportunity to enjoy normal chewing and a full smile, although other options deserve consideration.
We know it’s not always easy for you to sort through the complicated possibilities. Our dentists’ backgrounds in restorative dentistry allow them to develop solutions for every situation.
Porcelain Bridges
Dental bridges have traditionally been a top choice for replacing missing teeth. With the widespread use of dental implants, more options are now available to bridge gaps in your smile. Resilient, natural-looking porcelains, engineered into a bridge, can eliminate spaces of every size.
Whenever you drive across a bridge, you’re being supported by the same principles that support a dental bridge. Crowned teeth on either side of a space are called abutments. They support an artificial tooth, called a pontic. While a bridge lasts for many years, sometimes the strain of supporting one or more missing teeth can cause the abutments themselves to weaken and may lead to more missing teeth.
A Better Bridge
In many cases, dental implants offer a better alternative, eliminating most of the load-bearing strain you see in traditional bridge abutments. When carefully placed in the bone, an implant mimics the root of a tooth. They bear the load that the natural teeth used to hold, sparing the neighboring teeth from excessive forces. In some cases, two implants may be used to build a bridge.
Dr. Le & Dr. Nguyen know how to bring the puzzle pieces together to fit any scenario regardless of the scope of your treatment.
Full or Partial Dentures
Sometimes a removable appliance is the best way to replace missing teeth. The doctor can help you decide whether a partial denture or a complete denture would restore your mouth to its optimal function and appearance. Sometimes a combination of dental implants and dentures are used for unprecedented stability and confidence.
Dentures are an affordable way to replace any number of missing teeth in your mouth. They have a long history of success and continue to earn a place in the list of options for rebuilding your smile.
Dentures are removable substitutes for missing teeth. Full dentures are used when a person is missing all their natural teeth, while partial dentures replace only a few missing teeth here or there to eliminate gaps and improve chewing. Denture treatment is customized specifically to each patient, and the doctor can help you decide which option works best for you.
Full Dentures (conventional and implant-supported)
Sometimes tooth decay or gum disease can become unmanageable. This may lead to the decision to remove your remaining teeth on one or both arches. Full dentures are an economical and efficient way to restore your function and smile.
A complete denture consists of a thin gum-colored acrylic base that rests on the gum tissue. Porcelain or acrylic replacement teeth built into the base give the appearance of natural teeth. We know that your smile is unique, and Dr. Le & Dr. Nguyen have the experience to help you select the teeth that will look the most natural. This also gives you the chance to customize the way you look; whether you want a “new” smile or want to recreate the one you had.
While dentures boast a long history of successful use, modern technology offers some options to enhance the way dentures fit and the way you look. In many cases, dentures can be secured more firmly to your jaw with the use of dental implants placed in the jaw. In addition to having greater retention and a more natural look, implant-supported dentures tend to last longer. The doctor can discuss these options and help you understand the ways they can improve your experience with dentures.
Partial Dentures
Whether you’ve lost one tooth or many, chewing and smiling can become more difficult because of the gaps in your smile. Partial dentures are an economical solution to replace missing teeth, fill in the spaces, improve chewing ability, and restore your confidence to smile. A partial denture will also help keep your natural teeth from shifting, lowering the risk of losing those teeth in the future.
Most partial dentures contain a thin metal framework that is designed with small metal clasps that wrap around the gum line of existing teeth. This allows for a smooth, non-bulky feel. The framework is supported by your natural teeth to provide a reliable, secure appliance that is easy to use and remove. Where teeth are missing, natural-looking replacement teeth are attached, and gum-colored acrylic is used to cover the metal framework. Remember your mouth and your needs are unique, and Dr. Le & Dr. Nguyen work with skilled technicians to create a solution that is functional, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing.
With advances in technology, implants can also be used to support removable partial dentures, improving the fit while reducing the bulkiness of the appliance. Dentures inherently bring some challenges, especially to new wearers. Our goal is to minimize the everyday frustrations and keep you as comfortable as possible.
We look forward to discussing your options to make your mouth full again and to give you back a confident, glowing smile!
You Don't Have The be Rich To Have A Beautiful Smile
At Top Dental Care, Our Goal Is To Help You Create The Smile You Deserve.