If you're missing teeth and are thinking about having them restored, the range of restoration options available can make it difficult to choose what's best for you. Each solution is suitable for different kinds of situations. Your main options include traditional dentures and bridges, implant-supported restorations, and dental implants.
Traditional Restorations
The traditional restoration options—dentures and bridges—are the most popular, as they're the most affordable. Both dentures and bridges offer an easy way of replacing missing teeth without surgery and other potentially uncomfortable procedures.
Dentures are removable dental prosthetics that can replace as many missing teeth as you need. These appliances offer an affordable and broadly practical solution. The main issue with dentures is that they are removable, which means they're not a permanent fixture. As a result, they can sometimes slip in the mouth when coughing or laughing. Dentures also have less chewing and biting power than natural teeth, which sometimes means eliminating certain foods from your diet.
A bridge is a permanent prosthetic that can replace a row of up to 3 missing teeth. Since it's durable, there are no issues with slippage; however, because only a small number of missing teeth can be replaced, bridges don’t offer the full-mouth solution that dentures can.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are tooth restorations that are surgically implanted in the jaw, which means they're permanently fixed in the mouth. They have two main parts: a surgical metal post which is inserted in the jawbone, and a restoration which is attached to the metal post. This means that dental implants are structurally similar to natural teeth, and therefore mimic their function precisely. Dental implants have the same biting and chewing power as natural teeth, and slippage is never an issue.
Dental implants also support jawbone health, which is an advantage that traditional restorations can't offer. Jawbone health is an issue when teeth are missing because the jawbone beneath the missing teeth loses density over time. This is one reason why tooth loss can change your facial structure—but dental implants prevent this from occurring.
Although dental implants are costly, they are unlike any prosthetic, as they replace missing teeth from root to crown.
Implant-supported Dentures
As a hybrid of both dentures and dental implants, implant-supported dentures have some of the best features of both options. Implant-supported dentures consist of a denture that is fixed semi-permanently in the mouth, supported by posts. The implants provide strength and stability and support jawbone health. Also, the procedure is more affordable because restorations are supplied with a denture rather than with single-tooth restorations.
Dr. John Rohm is a compassionate and established dental professional dedicated to providing quality restorations to Imperial as well as the surrounding communities. For more information on our prosthetic services, call our practice today!