WHY A MISSING TOOTH IS A BIGGER DEAL THAN YOU THINK
Modern dentists try to focus on helping all of their patients keep all of their own teeth as long as possible. As patient education, dental health awareness, and technology have increased in recent years, patients have fewer missing teeth compared to past decades. Still, lost teeth can happen and many patients think it is not a problem if they have lost a tooth and they don’t need to get it fixed. However, a missing tooth or teeth are more than just a gap in your smile; they can lead to significant problems. The longer you wait to fix a missing tooth, the bigger your problem might get. DentalWorks in Charlotte, NC is skilled at replacing missing teeth with various advanced dentistry options. Read more about dental restorations before you visit for your consultation at DentalWorks in Charlotte, NC.
THE HIDDEN COST OF MISSING TEETH
If you have heard of muscle atrophy, you understand that without stimulation and exercise, our muscles can waste away. The same scenario occurs with your gums and jawbone. Holding the root of every tooth in place stimulates your jaw and gums. When you lose even one single tooth, the bone and gum tissue holding that tooth begins to weaken from lack of use. Patients who are missing all of their teeth on their top, lower, or both arches may be so impacted by atrophy that their jaw begins to appear small. Patients who have lost teeth, whether it be a single tooth, a few, or more, can also develop negative impacts in their overall health as well as their quality of life. It can be difficult to chew properly or speak clearly. People with several missing teeth might suffer from self-esteem issues. This can also start to impact their social life as they start to stay home rather than go out, which they used to love. Dental professionals across the country highly suggest fixing missing teeth to avoid the many issues that may occur.
RESTORATION OPTIONS
Maybe your decision to not treat your missing tooth is a cost issue or perhaps you simply didn’t realize that there were long-term issues. However, if you’ve lost one tooth or more, it’s important that you look into options to replace your tooth. The longer you wait to replace a tooth, the bigger your risk for further gum and jawbone loss as well as other problems. Common replacements include implant-supported restorations, bridges, as well as full and partial dentures.
IMPLANT-SUPPORTED RESTORATIONS
A lof of dentists think implant-supported restorations are the best option for replacing a missing tooth or teeth. Technological advances in dental restorations have made implant dentistry a leader in the treatment for missing teeth. The principal reason is because they can replace the tooth root in addition to the visible crown of a tooth. Implanted restorations avoid future bone loss because the metal post is embedded into the gums, stimulating the bone and keeping it functioning like it should. Your custom restoration will be attached to the metal implant(s). There are various advantages to choosing an implant-supported restoration. Implanted restorations function and look like real teeth, plus they typically last for a long time. The principal downside to implanted restorations is a longer recovery period and cost. Despite the recovery and high cost, implant-supported restorations are the preferred method to replace missing teeth.
DENTAL BRIDGES
A dental bridge is one or more false teeth that are held in place in the mouth by attaching to nearby teeth. A dental bridge is comprised of a false tooth with a dental crown on one or both side of the false tooth. These crowns are cemented to surrounding teeth to hold the false tooth in the gap left behind by your missing tooth. A custom bridge will keep the rest of your teeth from moving out of place, but they do not prevent atrophy in your gums and jawbone. Bridges can last for many years. They also typically cost less than implanted restorations.
DENTURES (FULL AND PARTIALS)
Partial or full dentures are a dental appliance or restoration that are often used if you need to replace all or most of the teeth on your top, bottom, or both arches. This kind of restoration consists of a plate that supports a group of false teeth that attach to your natural gums. Made custom from your digital impressions, modern dentures are manufactured to look natural. Partials dentures can be used for patients who are missing many, but not all their teeth. Although traditional dentures restore the appearance and function of your smile, they cannot prevent atrophy in your gums or jawbone. Those with removable dentures will have some level of atrophy plus a change in the shape of their lower face. This is another reason that implant-supported restorations are the preferred choice for the replacement of missing teeth.
GET RID OF GAPS
In the event you have missing teeth, you should learn about the risk of leaving gaps in your smile. If you’d like to get more information about your restoration options, we invite you to contact DentalWorks in Charlotte, NC. Our advanced practice offers different options for restoring missing teeth and we can help you choose one that suits your goals and budget. We take many types of payment and, if needed, our compassionate staff will be able to help you find medical financing. Get your missing teeth replaced with a restoration so you don’t have to deal with consequences down the road. We look forward to speaking more regarding the subject of missing teeth during your private consultation.
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