Living with one or more missing teeth is challenging. It affects your confidence, nutrition, and also your oral health. Missing teeth are often a downward spiral for more tooth loss, and for some patients, their situation begins to feel hopeless. Your dentist in Crown Point has good news for you! There are wonderful solutions for replacing one or multiple missing teeth, and restoring your confidence and oral health. Here are some of those options.
A Dental Bridge
Patients who are missing one or more adjacent teeth might benefit from a dental bridge. This is a fixed appliance that uses your healthy teeth as anchors for dental crowns. The crowns support one or more prosthetic teeth that fill in the space. Your bridge is designed to match your existing teeth and become a permanent part of your smile.
Partial and Full Dentures
Patients missing multiple teeth can choose from a partial or full denture. A denture is a removable appliance that is designed to replace all the teeth in your upper or lower arch. Today’s dentures are designed with your facial structure and skin tone in mind so they provide a much better fit and more appealing appearance.
Dentures rely on a tight fit and suction to stay in place, and there is often a learning curve as patients get used to eating and talking with their new appliance. You’ll remove your denture for cleaning at night, and visit your dentist once a year for checkups. Dentures do need to be relined periodically in order to ensure a proper fit.
A partial denture is also removable, and it’s a good option for patients missing multiple teeth, but who still retain a large number of healthy teeth. Partials are anchored to your healthy teeth with a metal clasp, so they “snap” into place much like a retainer. Customized prosthetic teeth fill in the open spaces similar to a puzzle piece.
Dental Implants
A dental implant is capable of replacing one or multiple missing teeth. It’s the best replacement option that dentistry has to offer because it restores both your tooth and your root. A titanium post takes the place of your root, while a porcelain crown replaces your tooth. A dental implant functions like your natural tooth, so you’ll be eating, talking, chewing, and smiling with ease again.
Dental implants in Crown Point can also support prosthetics such as a bridge or denture so patients with multiple missing teeth can enjoy the health benefits they offer. Implants give denture wearers a more secure fit that ensures that there is no movement or slippage when they talk or eat.
Contact Berquist Family Dentistry
Would you like to learn more about which option is right for you? Contact Berquist Family Dentistry today to schedule a consultation.
