Common Reasons for Tooth Loss
The primary goal of current dentistry is to protect and preserve your natural smile. Modern-day dentistry has evolved several advanced solutions to try and restore damaged enamel and maintain natural, dazzling teeth. However, despite all these state of the art techniques that are employed to safeguard your teeth, tooth loss can still occur.
Typically this can happen due to advanced gum infections that undermine the teeth or severe tooth decay that damages the tooth irreparably. Even with the best dental hygiene habits, you may still break or crack a tooth due to a fall or sports accident.
Why Should You Replace a Tooth
Sadly, if the inevitable has happened and you have lost a tooth due to an accident or extraction, you may wonder what to do next? Several options are open to you (which we will examine below), but you may ponder whether or not you should just live with the gap in your smile. Ultimately, only you can answer the question of the aesthetic impact on your grin, but there are certainly some other considerations that might affect your decision.
Dr. Shapiro will be glad to discuss all of the changes that can occur after a tooth is lost. Typically, these include:
- An increase in the amount of work done by the remaining teeth which can lead to increased wear and breakage
- Interference with your ability to speak clearly
- Teeth may “drift” into the gap caused by the missing tooth, resulting in an unbalanced bite leading to additional tooth loss
- You may begin to have “sunken” appearance around the cheeks or jawline which becomes more pronounced over time leading to premature aging
Missing a Tooth? You Have Multiple Options
Once tooth loss has occurred, you don’t have to give up hope of ever having a natural appearing, bright smile. The Center for Cosmetic Dentistry has multiple options that can restore both the appearance and functionality of your missing teeth. The best option for you will depend on the solution that most fully meets the needs of your unique case. Dr. Shapiro will discuss all the pros and cons of each dental restoration option and work with you to determine the optimal treatment for you.
Dental Bridges
A fixed dental bridge will give you much of the functionality and appearance of a normal tooth. Just as the name suggests, a natural appearing porcelain tooth is suspended between the two neighboring teeth. To accommodate this, the two neighboring teeth are fitted with crowns that form the anchor points for the porcelain tooth, which will fill the gap. This creates a durable solution that will be functional, but also keep teeth from shifting to fill the gap left by the missing tooth.
Durable Implants
These differ from the bridge by creating an artificial tooth that is affixed to the jawbone, just like a natural tooth. This provides the benefit of arresting bone deterioration along the jaw and provides a solid biting surface. The implant also keeps teeth from sliding inward to fill gaps left by the missing tooth and prevents the sunken appearance common with tooth loss. The difference between a natural tooth and an implant is so subtle that your friends and family may not even be able to tell.
Natural Appearing Partial or Complete Dentures
Dentures are typically used in situations where there have been multiple extractions or the loss of an entire arch of teeth. They come in several varieties that will address your situation. The Center for Cosmetic Dentistry offers Partial, Full, or All-On-4 non removable Implant Dentures. The Full and Partial options are removable, but provide a natural appearing solution for eating and speaking.
Implants can also be used to provide a permanent anchor for full or partial dentures . These can be fixed or removable, but they will not suffer from common problems caused by slippage and denture pastes or adhesives.
Tooth Restoration Starts Here
Let Dr. Shapiro at the Center for Cosmetic Dentistry answer all your tooth restoration questions. Contact us and set up a consultation appointment to evaluate your situation. With over 30 years of experience, you can trust in our professional expertise to restore your durable and dazzling smile once again.