Do I Have To Replace A Missing Tooth Or Multiple Teeth?
Tooth loss can occur because of excessive decay, gum (periodontal) disease, infections, severe tooth wear, or tooth trauma injuries. Some patients may be congenitally missing a tooth. One of the most common side effects of missing teeth is bone loss. When tooth roots are missing from the jaw bone, this space will deteriorate, and bone begins to resorb. This resorption can cause adjacent teeth to lean and your bite or occlusion to collapse.
In addition, missing teeth can change your facial appearance. When multiple teeth are missing, this can also impact your speech and your ability to eat.
What Are My Options To Replace Missing Teeth?
You have many options when it comes to replacing your missing teeth. Some are temporary solutions, while some are longer-lasting.
Missing Single Or Multiple Teeth:
- Dental Implants: Can replace one or more missing teeth. Dental implants are anchored into the jaw bone and are a permanent tooth replacement option. Dental implants are the strongest tooth replacement options and function just like your natural teeth.
- Dental Bridge: Typically fixed in place and is commonly made of two or more crowns. The gap is replaced by a “fake” tooth, also known as a pontic, and the anchor teeth are known as the abutments. Dental bridges can be fit over natural teeth or dental implants. A bridge can prevent remaining teeth from drifting out of their natural position.
Missing All Teeth Or Full Arch Of Teeth:
- Removable Options: These are prosthetics that would come in and out of your mouth.
- Full Denture: Replaces an entire arch of missing teeth. A denture can be worn on the top or bottom arch.
- Locator Retained Implant Dentures (Snap-In Dentures): An overdenture improves your appearance by replacing your missing teeth while providing improved overall function for eating and speech, combining the stability of dental implants with the convenience of a removable denture. Drs. Lepore and Dougherty consider this the minimum standard of care when missing all your teeth in an arch (upper or lower).
- Fixed Options: These prosthetics do not come in and out of your mouth.
- Fixed-Hybrid Dentures (Screwed-In Dentures): A screw-retained denture, also known as a hybrid denture, improves your appearance by replacing your missing teeth while improving overall function for eating and speech, with the added stability of a fixed (not removable) restoration thanks to the use of implants.
Call Lepore Comprehensive Dentistry in Dunedin, FL to discuss which tooth replacement option meets your dental needs with Dr. Lepore or Dr. Dougherty.
