Options for Replacing Lost Teeth

Options​ ​for​ ​Replacing​ ​Lost​ ​Teeth

What​ ​are​ ​the​ ​chances​ ​that​ ​you,​ ​or​ ​someone​ ​you​ ​know,​ ​will​ ​lose​ ​a​ ​tooth?​ ​The​ ​answer​ ​depends on​ ​a​ ​person’s​ ​lifestyle,​ ​but​ ​still​ ​the​ ​chances​ ​are​ ​approximately​ ​about​ ​1​ ​in​ ​4​ ​that​ ​someone​ ​will lose​ ​an​ ​adult​ ​tooth​ ​during​ ​one’s​ ​lifetime.

The​ ​reasons​ ​for​ ​losing​ ​teeth​ ​are​ ​as​ ​varied​ ​as​ ​the​ ​individuals​ ​who​ ​lose​ ​one​ ​or​ ​more​ ​teeth.​ ​Losing teeth​ ​are​ ​common​ ​occurrences​ ​for​ ​athletes​ ​who​ ​participate​ ​in​ ​contact​ ​sports.​ ​A​ ​sudden accident,​ ​impact,​ ​or​ ​injury​ ​to​ ​the​ ​mouth​ ​area​ ​can​ ​frequently​ ​result​ ​in​ ​lost​ ​teeth.​ ​Medical

conditions​ ​can​ ​also​ ​affect​ ​a​ ​person’s​ ​dental​ ​well-being.​ ​People​ ​with​ ​gum​ ​disease,​ ​tooth​ ​decay, sleep​ ​apnea,​ ​diabetes,​ ​heart​ ​issues,​ ​and​ ​even​ ​pregnancies​ ​can​ ​impact​ ​your​ ​dental​ ​health.

Having​ ​an​ ​empty​ ​space​ ​in​ ​your​ ​mouth​ ​can​ ​affect​ ​your​ ​confidence​ ​and​ ​interfere​ ​with​ ​eating,

speaking,​ ​and​ ​smiling.​ ​The​ ​good​ ​news​ ​is​ ​that​ ​there​ ​are​ ​a​ ​number​ ​of​ ​options​ ​available​ ​to​ ​you​ ​for replacing​ ​lost​ ​teeth.​ ​Today’s​ ​advanced​ ​dental​ ​techniques​ ​and​ ​strong,​ ​non-invasive​ ​materials

provide​ ​individuals​ ​with​ ​personalized​ ​replacement​ ​teeth​ ​that​ ​look,​ ​feel,​ ​and​ ​function​ ​the​ ​same​ ​as the​ ​teeth​ ​people​ ​were​ ​born​ ​with.

While​ ​there​ ​are​ ​no​ ​cookie-cutter​ ​approaches​ ​to​ ​replacing​ ​lost​ ​teeth,​ ​there​ ​are​ ​unique​ ​ways​ ​that replacement​ ​teeth​ ​can​ ​be​ ​made​ ​to​ ​perfectly​ ​substitute​ ​for​ ​your​ ​missing​ ​teeth.​ ​The​ ​three​ ​most popular​ ​methods​ ​used​ ​for​ ​replacing​ ​teeth​​ ​are​ ​Dental​ ​Implants,​ ​Dentures,​ ​and​ ​Bridges.

DENTAL​ ​IMPLANTS

This​ ​is​ ​a​ ​permanent​ ​option​ ​to​ ​replace​ ​one​ ​or​ ​more​ ​missing​ ​teeth.​ ​The​ ​procedure​ ​involves

several​ ​steps.​ ​During​ ​the​ ​first​ ​step,​ ​the​ ​dentist​ ​prepares​ ​the​ ​replacement​ ​space​ ​by​ ​affixing​ ​the implant,​ ​often​ ​referred​ ​to​ ​as​ ​the​ ​post,​ ​beneath​ ​the​ ​gum​ ​line​ ​and​ ​into​ ​the​ ​bone.​ ​Some​ ​stitches

made​ ​be​ ​needed​ ​to​ ​secure​ ​the​ ​post​ ​during​ ​the​ ​healing​ ​process​ ​when​ ​it​ ​will​ ​be​ ​surrounded​ ​by

new​ ​bone​ ​growth.​ ​The​ ​next​ ​step​ ​is​ ​when​ ​the​ ​dentist​ ​removes​ ​the​ ​stitches.​ ​Some​ ​additional​ ​time may​ ​be​ ​needed​ ​for​ ​complete​ ​healing​ ​before​ ​the​ ​new​ ​crown,​ ​or​ ​crowns,​ ​are​ ​placed​ ​over​ ​the posts.​ ​The​ ​final​ ​result​ ​is​ ​a​ ​real​ ​tooth’s​ ​appearance.

To​ ​help​ ​ensure​ ​that​ ​your​ ​dental​ ​implants​ ​last​ ​for​ ​a​ ​lifetime,​ ​the​ ​implants​ ​require​ ​the​ ​same​ ​daily brushing​ ​and​ ​flossing​ ​home​ ​care​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​routine​ ​dental​ ​examinations​ ​and​ ​professional cleanings​ ​as​ ​your​ ​natural​ ​teeth.

DENTURES

Dentures​ ​are​ ​not​ ​permanently​ ​affixed​ ​in​ ​your​ ​mouth.​ ​They​ ​can​ ​be​ ​formulated​ ​as​ ​a​ ​partial

apparatus​ ​that​ ​fit​ ​between​ ​and​ ​held​ ​in​ ​place​ ​by​ ​adjoining​ ​teeth,​ ​or​ ​as​ ​a​ ​full​ ​apparatus​ ​for​ ​upper and​ ​lower​ ​gum​ ​lines.​ ​Dentures​ ​are​ ​removable​ ​and​ ​can​ ​be​ ​removed​ ​to​ ​clear​ ​away​ ​any​ ​food

particles​ ​trapped​ ​when​ ​eating,​ ​and​ ​they​ ​can​ ​be​ ​cleaned​ ​by​ ​soaking​ ​them​ ​in​ ​a​ ​denture​ ​solution, such​ ​as​ ​Polident.​ ​Dentures​ ​are​ ​strong​ ​and​ ​durable.​ ​With​ ​the​ ​proper​ ​care,​ ​dentures​ ​will​ ​last​ ​for many​ ​years.

BRIDGES This​ ​is​ ​a​ ​semi-permanent​ ​option​ ​for​ ​replacing​ ​lost​ ​teeth.​ ​Dental​ ​bridges​ ​are​ ​attached​ ​to

adjoining​ ​teeth​ ​and​ ​are​ ​not​ ​removable,​ ​but,​ ​over​ ​time,​ ​they​ ​can​ ​become​ ​loose​ ​and​ ​separate

from​ ​their​ ​anchor​ ​teeth.​ ​Bridges​ ​can​ ​be​ ​used​ ​to​ ​fill​ ​the​ ​empty​ ​space​ ​left​ ​by​ ​one​ ​or​ ​more​ ​missing teeth.​ ​This​ ​dental​ ​option​ ​requires​ ​additional​ ​at-home​ ​cleaning​ ​care​ ​because​ ​of​ ​the​ ​small​ ​space left​ ​between​ ​the​ ​bridge​ ​and​ ​the​ ​gum​ ​line​ ​where​ ​plaque,​ ​tartar,​ ​and​ ​food​ ​particles​ ​can​ ​collect.