Tooth loss is undoubtedly a difficult issue for any patient to deal with. When you are missing teeth, you may find yourself hiding your smile, and your oral health as a whole can be negatively affected.
That is why our Saint Louis restorative dentists strongly recommend that patients seek immediate treatment for tooth loss. Today, we are reviewing a few of the treatment options available to you; let’s get started!
- Dentures
Dentures are designed to replace consecutive missing teeth. Generally, dentures sit on top of a patient’s gum tissue; the base of the denture is customized to fit snugly and comfortably over the patient’s jaw and gums. In our office, we personalize dentures so that the shape, size, and color of the replacement teeth work with the patient’s specific smile.
- Bridges
Bridges differ from dentures in that they are attached to adjacent teeth with small metal pieces—this is what holds bridges in place. Again, our team always customizes bridges to fit a patient’s smile both aesthetically and structurally. Bridges can be used to replace single teeth or multiple teeth in a row.
- Dental Implants
Dental implants represent an advancement in the world of restorative dentistry, because they are permanently grounded in the patient’s jawbone tissue, rather than sitting on top of it. Every dental implant has a titanium root that, essentially, serves as the replacement tooth root. Over time, the titanium is able to bond with the natural bone tissue: forming a strong and stable foundation.
- Implant-Grounded Prostheses
Now, our team is able to permanently ground larger dental prostheses, like dentures, into the patient’s smile using strategically placed implant roots. It generally takes only three or four titanium roots, for example, to embed a full denture.
When choosing a restorative solution for your smile, you’ll take into account your oral health, aesthetic goals, existing dental structure, budget, and timeline. Our Saint Louis Implant Smiles dentists are here to help you through this process, so give us a call to schedule a personal consultation!