Best Options for Missing Teeth Replacement
Less than 50% of adults in the United States have all of their permanent teeth. Having missing teeth can impact your ability to speak or eat and make you feel self-conscious. Fortunately, there are many tooth replacement treatment options available to minimize the discomfort and embarrassment of having missing teeth. Below are some of the most popular dental treatment options to replace missing teeth.
Tooth Replacement Treatments
A few of the most common treatment options to replace missing teeth include:
1. Dental Implant: A dental implant is a permanent tooth replacement that integrates with your natural jaw bone. The implant is a metal post that is securely placed into the jawbone during a surgical procedure. The implant is designed to act as the root of a new artificial tooth, called a crown. An implant crown is one of best option to replace one missing tooth in either the front or back of the mouth. It is important for patients to know that implants require a minor surgical procedure and a recovery period of several weeks to several months while the implant fuses with the jawbone.
Benefits of Dental Implants include:
* A 95% treatment success rate
* They are permanent and durable
* Maintenance only requires professional cleanings and good oral hygiene
* They help prevent bone loss
2. Dental Bridges: A single dental implant can also be used to replace several missing teeth with a dental bridge. An implant-supported bridge is a great choice to replace a section of several missing teeth. The number of implants needed for an implant-supported bridge depends on the number of missing teeth to be replaced. For patients missing all of their teeth, a dentist can perform a full mouth reconstruction with implant-supported dental bridges.
Benefits of Dental Bridges:
* No preparation work is needed on the healthy teeth
* Bridges function like natural teeth, restoring eating ability
* They offer aesthetically pleasing appearance
3. Implant-Supported Dentures: Unlike regular dentures, which rest on your gums, implant-supported dentures are designed to attach to dental implants. Implant-supported dentures require two phases for their installation. First, a surgical procedure is required to place at least two dental implants into the jaw bone. Next, the new customized prosthesis is fit and attached to the implants. The denture is custom-made out of an acrylic base and porcelain teeth, designed to look natural.
Choosing the Best Replacement Option for You
Thankfully, there are many tooth replacement options available, but the number of options can make choosing the best option for you a challenge. When choosing the right option, it is important to consider the following factors:
* Jaw Bone Health: For any of these treatment options to work, it is important to have healthy jaw bones. For patients with severe bone loss, alternative options may be required.
* Budget: Total treatment costs can vary greatly depending on the health of the mouth and desired treatment results.
* Maintenance: Brushing fixed implant dentures requires extra care, particularly when cleaning between the non-removable denture and the attachments. Maintaining good oral hygiene with dental implants is the easiest as no extra care is required.