Your teeth affect your whole body. When they’re healthy, you’re healthier too. A missing tooth can affect your bite, speech and eating choices. As you rely more on your remaining teeth, you increase the chance they will wear out prematurely, or be damaged or lost. You may also experience headaches and/or jaw pain.
Who would want their appearance and health to deteriorate? That’s the natural consequence of missing teeth; the jaw literally melts away. Generally, people will lose 25% of their supporting jawbone structure within the first year after tooth loss.
The great news? You have options that can preserve your bone, restore your confidence, and protect your remaining teeth. At Northwest Oral Surgeons in Schererville, IN, Drs. Wolf, Mekhail and Moll provide comprehensive tooth replacement solutions tailored to your specific needs and lifestyle.
Understanding Your Tooth Replacement Options
You can select from a number of different options to replace your missing teeth, from temporary to long-lasting solutions. Each option offers distinct advantages, and your oral surgeon will help you determine which best suits your needs, budget, and long-term goals.
Fixed Bridge
A fixed bridge is a connected set of replacement teeth. For support, it is cemented into position on top of the teeth adjacent to the empty space. The protective outer layer of these teeth is usually removed or ground down prior to attaching the bridge. While bridges can restore your smile, they do require altering healthy teeth for support.
Flipper
A fragile, temporary and inexpensive solution is a removable plastic tooth with a plastic retainer, often called a “flipper”. This option works well as an immediate, short-term solution while you consider more permanent options.
Metal Partial
A less fragile option is a removable partial denture cast in metal and plastic. It is held in place by wire clips. A removable partial denture can be removed and reinserted when required by you, offering flexibility and easier cleaning.
Denture
The most common solution for people missing all teeth in one or both jaws are complete dentures. Some people adapt well to dentures. Others find them uncomfortable, even intolerable, because of differences in jaw size and shape.
Dental Implants: Your Most Natural Solution
Dental implants are the most comfortable and permanent solution. They form a strong foundation for teeth and keep the jaw healthy and strong. Implants support individual replacement teeth or secure specialized dentures in place. Unlike bridges, no healthy teeth are damaged. Unlike most bridges, implants can last a lifetime. Implant-supported replacement teeth can be attractive, stable, and comfortable for almost any patient.
Dental implants are more easily placed when teeth are first extracted because bone replacement becomes more complex as time passes. Implants act just like your natural teeth. They safeguard and preserve your bone structure, oral health and appearance.
Why Select Dental Implants Over More Traditional Types Of Restorations?
There are several reasons: A dental bridge can sacrifice the structure of surrounding good teeth to bridge the space of the missing tooth/teeth. In addition, removing a denture or a “partial” at night may be inconvenient, not to mention dentures that slip can be uncomfortable and rather embarrassing.
Are You a Good Candidate?
A good candidate is anyone missing one or more teeth, or who is unhappy with their dentures. Age is not a factor. However, smoking, diseases such as diabetes, and radiation therapy to the area, have been shown to lower the success rate of implant placement.
Your consultation will include X-rays of your jaw to evaluate whether they will accommodate implants. Detailed x-rays may also be required to determine if other tests or procedures are needed to place implants properly. Your oral surgeon will provide you with options so that you can make the most informed decision concerning tooth replacement.
Take the First Step Toward Your Complete Smile
Your missing teeth shouldn’t dictate your future. With today’s advanced tooth replacement options, you can eat comfortably, speak clearly, and smile with confidence again. The experienced team at Northwest Oral Surgeons specializes in complex implant rehabilitation and immediate implant placement, offering you the most advanced solutions available.
