Missing Teeth

Are You Missing Teeth?

There are many reasons people typically lose their teeth. The reason for the loss and the possible replacement is multifactorial, so a thorough examination of the bone, teeth, and soft tissue is necessary.

We are committed to your dental education and well-being. You will be involved in the treatment planning phase for the best treatment for your specific needs, and possible options can include:

Bridges

A bridge is a custom device anchored to neighboring teeth that replaces one or more missing teeth. When a lost tooth is replaced with bridgework, the teeth on either side of the missing one are prepared as crowns to serve as abutments to hold the prosthetic (replacement) tooth in place.

Crowns and bridges are most often made form superior materials such as semiprecious or precious metals, porcelain, or a fused combination of the two. Aesthetics, function, and tissue compatibility are considered when selecting the material most suitable to you.

Implants

Implants are titanium prosthetics that are placed in the bone; they will integrate over a period of four months. Once integration is established an abutment and crown meant to mimic your original tooth (or better) is fabricated and placed. In fact an implant prevents normal bone loss after an extraction. Implants became mainstream in the 1980’s and with the improvements we have seen over the past two decades have become a popular choice because of the success rates. Once an implant has been restored it is nearly impossible to detect just by looking at someone. They are a wonderful mix of function and beauty.

Removable Dentures and Partials

Removable prosthetics are an interesting option for people really needing to stay within a small budget. For about the cost of two crowns you can replace all or some of the teeth in an entire arch, the top or bottom. They can be a good choice as an interim solution while you are saving or going through the process of implants.

Implant retained dentures are a stable and economical combination as well.

There are as many solutions as there are people it seems. Each person has a unique set of problems and therefore it will take an individualized plan for restoration.