DO I HAVE TO REPLACE A MISSING TOOTH OR MULTIPLE TEETH?
Tooth loss may occur due to excessive decay, periodontal disease (also known as gum disease), tooth infections, severe wear of the natural tooth structure, or injuries. Some patients might even be missing a tooth congenitally. Without replacement, one of the most common side effects of missing teeth is bone loss in the jaw. When the tooth roots are not in place within the jawbone, this space deteriorates, and the natural bone starts to resorb. This resorption will often cause the adjacent teeth to shift and can result in changes to your bite or occlusion. Also, missing teeth will noticeably change the structure and facial appearance, making eating and speaking difficult. This is why Drs. Angela Rasmussen and Amanda del Cueto of Gentle Dentistry in Tampa, Florida, work alongside patients to educate them on the benefits of tooth replacement immediately after losing teeth.
WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS TO REPLACE MISSING TEETH?
You have many solutions available when replacing missing teeth. Some are short-term solutions, while some are more permanent.
Missing Single or Multiple Teeth Replacement:
- Dental Implants. The dental implant will replace one or several missing teeth. These implants are anchored into the patient’s jaw bone and are a permanent option for tooth replacement. Dental implants are one of the strongest tooth replacement solutions, and they function just like natural teeth
- Dental Bridge. The dental bridge is typically fixed into place using the adjacent teeth. It is commonly made with two dental crowns. The gap is replaced by a “false” tooth, referred to as a pontic, and the surrounding anchor teeth are referred to as the abutments. Dental bridges are made to fit over your natural teeth or the abutments of dental implants. A bridge will also keep the remaining teeth from shifting from their natural positions
MISSING ALL TEETH OR FULL ARCH OF TEETH:
Removable Options
These are prosthetics that would come in and out of your mouth.
- Full Denture. The full denture replaces the entire arch of missing teeth in the smile. A customized denture can be worn on the top arch or the bottom arch.
- Locator-Retained Implant Dentures (also referred to as Snap-In Dentures or overdenture). Snap-In dentures can improve the smile’s appearance by replacing your missing teeth to improve overall function for eating and speech. It combines the strength and stability of dental implants with the convenience of an affordable and removable denture. Drs. Angela Rasmussen and Amanda del Cueto consider this the minimum standard of care when a patient is missing all the teeth in the upper arch and lower arch.
Fixed Options
Our fixed options are oral prosthetics that are not removable, with the most popular being the fixed-hybrid denture.
- Fixed-Hybrid Dentures (Screwed-In Dentures): A screw-retained denture, also referred to as a hybrid denture, will improve the smile’s appearance by replacing missing teeth and, at the same time, improve functionality for speech and eating. They have a fixed or non-removable restoration that uses dental implants for support.
LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR TOOTH REPLACEMENT OPTIONS WITH GENTLE DENTISTRY
Call Gentle Dentistry in Tampa, FL, at (813) 734-7102 to discuss with Drs. Angela Rasmussen and Amanda del Cueto, which tooth replacement options will best meet your dental needs.
