In This Article
What Are My Tooth Replacement Options?
The loss of teeth can be devastating to your self-esteem and confidence. Whether you’re missing one, several, or all of your teeth, you’re probably concerned about your tooth replacement options. You may wonder if you should get dental bridges or partial dentures. Complete dentures, dental implants, or full teeth implants. We describe what you can expect from your tooth replacement options.
Dental Bridges
Dental bridges are the ideal teeth replacement option for patients missing two or more teeth in a single row. A dental bridge consists of a series of prosthetic teeth, known as pontics, connected to dental crowns on either side. The dental crowns are usually attached to the surrounding abutment teeth. To attach a dental bridge, the dentist must shave some of the enamel off the surrounding abutment teeth to accommodate the dental crowns. The final restoration looks natural and remains stable.
Partial Dentures
Partial dentures can replace multiple teeth simultaneously. You can opt for this type of tooth replacement if you’re missing several teeth from different mouth regions. The dental implant dentist will create a partial denture that consists of prosthetic teeth at the locations of your missing teeth. The prosthetic teeth will be fastened to the back of your natural teeth, thus using your natural teeth for support. However, partial dentures can be unstable and have to be removed and cleaned regularly.
Complete Dentures
Complete dentures are meant for patients missing all of the teeth in the upper or lower arch. A complete denture is a series of prosthetic teeth attached to a gum-colored or pink base. The base is attached to the gums using dental adhesives, thus providing the external appearance of complete teeth. Thanks to recent innovations, complete dentures are fairly stable and look natural. But even so, complete dentures can restore complete bite force and must be taken off and cleaned regularly, so they don’t feel natural.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are widely considered the best replacement for missing teeth. That’s because dental implants replace the root structures of the missing teeth — not just the visible crowns. A dental implant is essentially a titanium or ceramic screw drilled into the jawbone underneath the empty socket of the missing teeth. Once the dental implant is placed, your body initiates a healing process, and jawbone tissues grow around the implant surface. Over time, the dental implant becomes a firmly rooted part of the dental anatomy and can support a prosthetic tooth with complete stability.
What Are The Types Of Dental Implants?
Now that you know dental implants are the best types of teeth replacement, you may wonder about your dental implant options. Dental implants are essentially replacements for the root structures of your missing teeth. Still, there are several types of dental implants, depending on the location of implantation, material, and the number of teeth they’re replacing. The following are some of the types of dental implants.
Endosteal Implants
Endosteal dental implants are drilled into the jawbone underneath the empty socket of the missing teeth. They replace the root structures of the missing teeth and offer a firm and stable base for the dental prosthetic.
Subperiosteal Implants
Subperiosteal implants are placed under the gumline but above the jawbone, i.e., they don’t properly replace the roots of your teeth. Subperiosteal implants aren’t as stable as endosteal implants, but they might be necessary for situations with the insufficient jawbone.
Titanium Implants
Titanium implants are made of titanium, one of the strongest and most durable materials. Titanium implants have been used since the 1950s to replace missing teeth with optimal stability, but they may include a minor risk of allergic reactions.
Ceramic Implants
Ceramic implants are made of zirconium oxide, a tooth-colored material that’s hypoallergenic and biocompatible. Ceramic implants are fairly new innovations, but recent studies show they might be more suitable for some patients than titanium implants.
Partial Implants
Partial implants are dental implants that replace one or a few missing teeth. The dental implant specialist attaches the dental implants at the sites of the missing teeth and uses them to replace a few missing teeth.
Full Teeth Implants
Full teeth implants are used to replace a complete arch of missing teeth. If you’re missing all of your teeth, the dental implant specialist can attach implants in a few strategic locations to support a complete denture, thus replacing all of your teeth with a few implants.
What Are My Dental Implant Restoration Options?
Dental implants replace the root structures of your missing teeth — not the visible teeth. If you get dental implants, you also have to consider your dental implant restoration options. Depending on the number of missing teeth and implants, your dental implant dentist may recommend dental crowns, bridges, or complete dentures.
What Are The Benefits Of Dental Implants?
Dental implants are the ideal replacements for missing teeth because they replace the root structures of your missing teeth. Once the dental implant fuses with your natural jawbone tissues, they serve the same functionality as natural teeth. They also support your natural jawbone tissues, so they prevent bone resorption and preserve your facial structure.
Can I Get Dental Implants At 17?
Yes. You can get dental implants at 17 or any other age. There are no age restrictions for dental implants. If you’re missing one or several missing teeth, you can get dental implants to replace them without any problems.
Schedule An Appointment For Full Teeth Implants At Our Dental Spa In Uptown, Houston
URBN Dental is a group of state-of-the-art dental implant clinics specializing in cutting-edge teeth replacement options. We have dental implant offices in Midtown Houston, Uptown Houston, Montrose, and other parts of Houston, TX. Whether you’re missing one tooth, several teeth, or all of your teeth, we can offer partial and full teeth implants to replace your missing teeth. Please schedule an appointment to explore your teeth replacement options at our dental spa in Uptown Houston.