If you’ve lost a tooth or had to have one extracted, the most beneficial thing you can do for your overall oral health is to fill the space left behind. Here are some tooth replacement options to choose from.
Replacing missing teeth is important because when the spaces are left open, it can allow the surrounding teeth to shift out of position over time. It can also cause the supporting structures of the teeth, in particular the jaw bone, to deteriorate over time, causing facial collapse.
The following is a brief explanation of the tooth replacement options we offer at Cloverdale Crossing Dental Clinic.
Dentures: Full & Partial
Dentures are removable dental appliances that replace missing teeth and the tissue surrounding them.
You can get full dentures to replace either a full upper or a full lower jaw of teeth. Or, you can get a partial denture to replace a single missing tooth, or a few in a row.
Once upon a time, dentures used to be made of all sorts of peculiar materials, including lead, human teeth, cow teeth and elephant ivory, but fortunately, today we have access to better materials!
Today, dentures can be made of a variety of materials, mostly different types of resin, or porcelain. The framework that supports the teeth of the dentures is usually made of a rigid acrylic resin, or a flexible nylon polymer.
Dental Bridges
A dental bridge is permanent tooth replacement option that is affixed to the teeth on either side of the gap. In other words, they literally bridge the gap left by missing teeth.
A bridge is made up of false teeth (pontics) which can be made of gold, porcelain, alloys, or a combination of these materials. They are attached on either side by two or more crowns on the teeth on either side of the gap, called the abutment teeth.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are also permanent replacements for missing teeth. They are essentially tiny titanium rods that are implanted into your jawbone, which are then capped with a dental crown.
Dental Implants look, feel and behave just like natural teeth do. With proper care, they’ll last you a lifetime.
