How Can I Replace Damaged or Missing Teeth?
By: Stephen Price DDS | Monday, July 15th, 2019 | Dental Bridges
Monday, July 15th, 2019
Tooth damage is sometimes unavoidable, as is tooth loss. In our Burke office, patients of Dr. Price can explore several restorative options to get their smile back. The tooth replacement options that are used today each seek to improve the appearance of the smile after tooth loss. Additionally, modern restorations are affixed in a way that also restores optimal chewing function. Here, we discuss a few of the common ways in which teeth can be replaced.
Dental Bridge
A dental bridge is a fixed restoration that can replace up to a few teeth that sit side-by-side. Various dental bridge options exist, including what is called a cantilever bridge that attaches to only one natural tooth rather than two. A standard dental bridge has two crowns with one or more artificial teeth in between. The crowns are cemented to natural teeth to stabilize chewing, bite, and speech.
Dentures
Dentures are typically removable, stabilized either by dental adhesive or clasps. A partial denture may look somewhat like a dental bridge, with lifelike artificial teeth and a small acrylic “gum.” Partial dentures attach to adjacent teeth with hidden clasps and are removed regularly for cleaning. A full denture sits on top of the gums and is made to fit in a way that provides natural suction to hold artificial teeth and gums in place. In many instances today, patients choose to combine full dentures with dental implants.
Dental Implants
This form of tooth replacement is not a treatment in and of itself. Dental implants are a base for a crown, a bridge, or a denture. Implants are very small cylinders made of titanium. Their role is to sit in the jawbone where natural roots once existed. With implants, we not only gain full stability for artificial teeth but we also recreate the stimulating structure that is necessary to prevent accelerated bone loss.
Learn More About Tooth Replacement
Each tooth replacement technique has advantages and disadvantages. To learn more about these options, schedule a consultation in our Burke office at (703)-935-2879.
