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What can you do for missing teeth?
Missing teeth can cause numerous problems. At the most basic level, the loss of teeth from the front regions can cause self-consciousness and social anxiety, making you want to hide your smile, which can negatively affect your mental health. But missing teeth (whether the gap is visible or not) can also lead to several dental problems in the long-term and short-term. You may develop a lisp because of missing teeth, lose your ability to speak clearly, or even have to avoid certain hard foods. All of these problems occur shortly after the loss of your teeth.
In the long term, missing teeth can also change the structure of your dental anatomy. When you experience tooth loss, the jawbone tissues underneath the missing tooth’s empty socket start degenerating, leading to the gradual loss of the jawbone, which, in turn, leads to facial sagging. The surrounding teeth may also start drifting closer towards the gap, thus leading to misalignment problems, which, in turn, increases the risks of cavities, bacterial infections, and gum disease. As such, even one missing tooth can lead to numerous dental problems that necessitate expensive and complex procedures.
If you have missing teeth, you need to carefully consider your teeth replacement options. Your dentist may offer the following options — dental bridges, complete/ partial dentures, or dental implants. All of these teeth replacement options have their unique pros and cons, but dental implants are widely considered the best solutions for the replacement of teeth.
Dental Bridges
A dental bridge is a series of two or more connected prosthetic teeth supported on both sides by dental crowns. The two healthy abutment teeth, besides the missing tooth’s empty socket, are carefully shaved down into small stubs. Once the abutment teeth are filed down, they support the crowns of the dental bridge, thereby grounding the prosthetic teeth in place. You can use a dental bridge to replace one to three or four missing teeth in a row. This is an extremely convenient tooth replacement option, but it necessitates modifying healthy teeth, and it doesn’t support the underlying jawbone tissues.
Complete/ Partial Dentures
Complete/ partial dentures are dental appliances attached to your gums using dental adhesives. A complete denture is essentially a series of prosthetic teeth supported on a gum-colored base, which is attached to your gum tissues with dental adhesives. Meanwhile, a partial denture includes the fake teeth on a base, which can be clasped onto the back of your existing teeth. The denture is specifically designed to ensure the fake teeth sit comfortably in the socket of the missing teeth. In both cases, you need to take your dentures off while sleeping, and you need to clean them using special solutions.
Dental Implants
A dental implant is completely unique because it replaces the root structure of the missing tooth — not the visible crown. The dental implant dentist attaches a titanium post within the jawbone underneath the missing tooth’s empty socket. As your body heals, the jawbone tissues fuse with the titanium surface, making the implant a firmly rooted part of your dental anatomy. Over time, the dental implant can support a dental crown, dental bridge, or denture, depending on the number of missing teeth. Implant-supported dentures replace all of your missing teeth, and the results look, feel, and function like natural teeth. Dental implants also support your jawbone tissues and restore complete bite force, so having dental implants is like having natural teeth.
How do I care for my dental implant?
Patients have no trouble caring for or maintaining dental implants. The maintenance of dental implants is no different from the maintenance of natural teeth. You need to brush at least twice a day, floss regularly, rinse your mouth with antibacterial mouthwash, and visit your dentist for dental cleanings once every six months. If you maintain optimal oral hygiene, your dental implants can last a lifetime. But if you don’t maintain good oral hygiene, you may develop bacterial infections that cause peri-implantitis and other complications, increasing the risk of dental implant failure.
Am I a good candidate for dental implants?
You are a good candidate for dental implants if you’re missing one, several, or even all of your teeth. You also need to have good oral health and sufficient jawbone tissues. If you have active dental problems, such as gum disease and cavities, you must seek treatment for those issues before proceeding with dental implants. And if you have insufficient jawbone tissues, you may need to undergo a bone graft for dental implants. Dental implants are suitable for all patients with missing teeth — some may just need more time for preparation.
How long will implant treatment time take?
The dental implant surgery concludes within an hour and involves no downtime. But the entire dental implant process may take several months and multiple visits with your dental implant dentist. The dental implant surgeon can attach the dental implant abutment a few months after the dental implant surgery, and the prosthetic is attached even after the abutment placement. So the overall time depends on your specific condition and requirements.
Schedule an appointment for teeth implants near me in Montrose, Houston
URBN Dental is one of the most reliable dental implant centers led by highly-skilled and specialized dental implant providers in Houston. Our top-rated dental implant dentists carefully examine your teeth, discuss your goals, and curate the ideal teeth replacement option for you. You can find our dental clinic at 3201 Allen Pkwy in Houston, making it ideal for patients from the Museum District, West University Place, Upper Kirby, or River Oaks in Houston. Please schedule a consultation with our local dental implant dentists to explore your teeth replacement options in Montrose.