Missing Teeth

Both a bridge and a dental implant are excellent solutions for replacing a missing tooth and restoring function to the affected area. In most cases, both will require multiple appointments to complete. There are some differences between the two solutions that you will want to discuss with your doctor as you plan your treatment.

A bridge is a restoration that attaches a replacement tooth by using teeth on either side of the missing tooth for support. The primary advantage of a bridge is the time it requires to fully complete. Bridges can generally be completed in a matter of weeks. However, the primary disadvantage of the bridge is that it requires reducing the neighboring teeth for support, which sometimes involves reducing healthy tooth material. Additionally, since it does not replace the missing root structure, you are at an increased risk of bone loss over time. Another disadvantage is the extensive maintenance needed to keep a bridge clean and healthy. Frequent cleaning with special threaded floss is necessary to prevent bacteria build-up which can result in irritation and gum loss.

Another option for replacing a missing tooth is a dental implant. A dental implant serves as an artificial root which then anchors the replacement tooth in place. One major advantage of an implant is that it substitutes the root structure of the missing tooth. Given that the roots serve the function of stabilizing and maintaining healthy bone tissue, an implant continues to help protect and preserve the area in a similar fashion. In addition, since this is a self-supporting restoration, it can be cared for just like any natural tooth. It also does not require removal of potentially healthy structure from the neighboring teeth.

One potential drawback to a dental implant can be the time span needed to complete the procedure. In such cases, your doctor can place a temporary tooth in the empty space while you heal. As with any procedure, many additional factors must be taken into account. They should be discussed with your doctor so that the right choice can be made based upon your unique needs.

For patients requiring replacement of all teeth in the upper and/or lower arch of the mouth, removable dentures are an excellent treatment option. They provide improved aesthetics by replacing the missing teeth in the mouth and improved overall function for eating and speech. It will typically take multiple appointments for your doctor to design and fit a set of removable dentures for you. Removable dentures are a prosthesis placed in the mouth containing replacement teeth, typically mounted on a base made of a pink, gum-colored resin formed to an exact fit over your existing gums. They are designed to be removable without the assistance of a dental professional. The process of creating the dentures begins with your doctor taking several impressions of your gums. These impressions are then sent to a laboratory where an expert technician builds a model of your mouth. The lab then works closely with your doctor to design your prosthesis using the model as a base. As each phase of the design is completed, your doctor will meet with you to check for proper fit and bite alignment. It usually requires multiple incremental try-in fittings to ensure the best final result for you. After a brief period of adjusting to the feel of the dentures in your mouth, they will begin to feel natural to you, making eating easier and your speech clearer. Once your dentures are finished, and you have fully adjusted to them, you will have a removable restoration specially designed to mimic the appearance of natural teeth that improves the overall function of your mouth.

For patients requiring replacement of all teeth in the upper and/or lower arch of the mouth, a locator-retained overdenture with dental implants is an excellent treatment option. An overdenture improves your appearance by replacing your missing teeth while providing improved overall function for eating and speech, combining the stability provided by dental implants with the convenience of a removable denture. It will require multiple appointments for your doctor to place the dental implants and design your overdenture.

A locator-retained overdenture is a removable prosthesis placed in the mouth containing replacement teeth, mounted in a base made of pink resin to create an exact fit over your existing gums. It securely snaps in place using button-like fittings called locators. The locators are fixed in place using dental implants, which are artificial roots placed into the supporting bone. Utilizing implants not only provides a solid foundation for the denture teeth, allowing for optimal eating and speaking but also helps to preserve the underlying bone, which can shrink over time without a tooth root structure to retain it.

The first step in this process is to take an impression of the area and design a temporary denture for you. When the temporary denture is completed, diagnostic images are taken of the area to plan out the placement of your dental implants. Next, the area is prepared, and your dental implants are placed. Special healing caps are placed over your implants while you heal. At subsequent visits, your doctor will monitor the healing process, letting you know when the area is ready for the next phase of treatment. You can continue to wear your temporary denture during this time. Once your implants have fully healed, your doctor will take new impressions with the locator abutments attached. These impressions are then sent to a laboratory to start the process of creating your final overdenture.

During follow-up appointments, your doctor will check for proper fit and bite alignment of the final denture and locator attachments. It may require multiple incremental try-in fittings to ensure the best final result for you. Once all adjustments have been made, the final overdenture is placed onto the locator attachments. With the process completed, you will have a removable restoration specially designed to replace your natural teeth in a way that greatly improves your appearance, with the added advantage of attaching to fixed implant-supported locators to promote optimal function when eating or speaking.

For patients requiring replacement of all teeth in the upper and/or lower arch of the mouth, screw-retained dentures with dental implants are an excellent treatment option. They improve your appearance by replacing your missing teeth while providing improved overall function for eating and speech, with the added stability of a fixed restoration, thanks to the use of implants. It will require multiple appointments for your doctor to place the dental implants and to design your dentures.

Screw-retained dentures are a prosthesis placed in the mouth containing replacement teeth mounted in a base made of pink resin formed over a metal structure to create an exact fit over your existing gums. They are secured in place using dental implants, which are artificial roots placed into the supporting bone. Utilizing implants not only provides a solid foundation for the denture teeth, allowing for optimal eating and speaking but also helps to preserve the surrounding bone from shrinking over time without a tooth root structure to support it.

The first step in this process is to take an impression of the area, which your doctor will use to create a set of temporary dentures for you. When the temporary dentures are completed, diagnostic images are taken of the area to plan out the placement of your dental implants. Next, the area is prepared, and your dental implants are placed. If your doctor feels that the implants are stable enough to handle the force of biting, abutments will be secured into the implants, and the temporary dentures will be secured to the abutments. At subsequent visits, your dentist will monitor the healing process, letting you know when the area is ready for the next phase of treatment. Once your implants have fully healed, your doctor will take new impressions of your mouth. These impressions will be used to create your final dentures.

During follow-up appointments, your doctor will check for proper fit and bite alignment of the final denture. It may require multiple incremental try-in fittings to ensure the best final result for you. Once all adjustments have been made, the final denture is fixed in place. With the process completed, you will have a restoration specially designed to replace your natural teeth in a way that greatly improves your appearance while being securely fixed in place in a way that promotes optimal function when eating or speaking.