Missing Teeth: Three Common Dental Solutions

Losing teeth can have significant effect on a person's personality, confidence and thus general happiness, but missing teeth solutions can help you regain your smile. Advancements in cosmetic dentistry now make it possible for virtually anyone to have a great set of pearly whites.

Dental solutions for missing teeth

Lots of adults lose teeth due to oral health issues like extensive cavities, periodontal (gum) disease, or traumatic injuries. Missing teeth can take a toll on your quality of life. Missing teeth can lower your confidence, change the way you look, prevent you from eating certain foods and affect your ability to pronounce certain words.

Without professional treatment, missing teeth can bring about complications. This can lead to biting problems, cavities, and gum disease. Therefore, it is important to seek treatment options as soon as possible.

The three most common dental solutions available are bridges, dentures, and implants.

1. Dental Bridge

A dental bridge replaces lost teeth by anchoring it onto the surrounding teeth. Also known as a fixed dental prosthesis, crowns are often put on the natural teeth that will act as an anchor for extra support.

The procedure involves a dentist grinding down these teeth so that your new crowns fit properly. The dentist then takes a mold of your teeth, using specialized dental putty. This mold is then sent to lab technicians who design and manufacture the bridge out of porcelain, gold, alloys or a combination of these materials.

The dentist will then fit a temporary bridge to protect your exposed gums and teeth in the meantime. During your second dental visit, the dentist will remove the temporary bridge and place the customized bridge in. The dentist will then check the permanent bridge for its fit and bite and adjust accordingly.  The dentist will fix it in place with dental cement.

2. Denture

A denture is another good way to replace a missing tooth or teeth. These are removable devices for your teeth that look and function like natural teeth. Generally fabricated from acrylic resins, a complete denture covers your entire jaw. In cases where only a few teeth are lost, partial dentures are the solution.

Your dentist will take an impression of your mouth using special dental putty and send that over to a lab to make your custom dentures. Complete dentures have an acrylic gum-colored base and rest directly on the gums. The upper dentures fit neatly into the entire palate and the lower dentures have a horseshoe shape for added comfort.

3. Dental Implants

Dental implants are a great option if you are only missing a tooth. The procedure involves placing a titanium rod (artificial tooth root) into the jawbone that provides a strong foundation for permanent artificial teeth that look, feel and function like your natural teeth.

With dental implants, the bone loss is not an issue since the implant serves just as your natural tooth root would, stimulating your jaw. many people have difficulty determining dental implants from natural teeth.

Missing a tooth or two? Call (770) 205-9226 to find out about your options or to schedule an appointment with Cumming's Family Dentist in our Cumming dental office.