According to research, the majority of adults will lose at least one tooth during their lifetimes. If you fall into that category, you probably want to replace your missing teeth. After all, a complete smile is better for your health—not to mention your self-esteem. It’s also completely doable and affordable when you work with a highly trained dentist in Mohegan Lake, NY, who can offer you choices like dental bridges, dental implants, and partial dentures.
How Does a Bridge Work?
For many generations, patients with missing teeth relied on dental bridges to replace the gaps in their smiles. Dental bridges are created by replacing the missing tooth with a prosthetic tooth that’s anchored by tooth crowns attached to the adjacent teeth.
Bridges can be suitable in many cases, but will need to be replaced every decade. They also require dental work on the healthy teeth next to them. Plus, they do not stop bone loss from occurring at the site of the lost tooth. Only dental implants can put an end to worsening bone reabsorption. For that reason, many patients who visit a dentist to discuss missing teeth ask first about dental implants rather than bridges.
Do Dental Implants Actually Replace Lost Teeth?
Dental implants can be an excellent choice when you have one or more missing teeth in different locations in your mouth. Because the teeth are not in a row, each tooth will need to be replaced individually.
A dentist will evaluate you first to ensure you are a candidate for the dental implant procedure, which involves an in-office surgery. During the surgery, implants will be placed into your jawbone at precise points. Once in place, they will be fitted with a temporary, tooth-like restoration and allowed to heal.
After several months, the implants will be fully attached to the surrounding bone. You will return to the dentist’s office to have a permanent restoration attached to the implants. And your new teeth will fit in perfectly with the rest of your smile! In fact, high quality dental implants always complement your other teeth and blend right in.
Best of all, you can expect your dental implants to last for a lifetime with proper care.
Can Dental Implants Be Used for Many Missing Teeth in a Row?
What happens if you have several missing teeth in a row? Or if you’re missing part or all of an arch? Replacing each tooth with a dental implant wouldn’t be an efficient way to restore your mouth’s function or appearance. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t still benefit from dental implants.
Many people with missing teeth work with a dentist to receive full or partial dentures. The dentures can be removable, but are often anchored to a surgically placed dental implant. This means the denture won’t slide around or fall out. Instead, it will stay exactly where you want it because it’s being held by the dental implant.
Say Goodbye to Missing Teeth
Missing teeth aren’t just annoying. They can also affect your quality of life, right down to limiting the foods you can easily enjoy. When it’s time to transform your smile and improve your overall health, make an appointment with Dr. George Sepiashvili at Advanced Dentistry of Mohegan Lake, NY.
Dr. Sepiashvili has concentrated his career on staying at the leading edge of all cosmetic dentistry and dental implant treatments. Schedule your consultation to discuss ways to resolve your missing teeth problems by calling our office at (914) 594-6824.