What Are My Tooth Replacement Options?
Have you recently ? If so, it’s time to schedule an appointment with one of our dentists in Grand Rapids, MI. During your consultation, your dentist will help you explore your tooth replacement options. That way, you’ll be able to smile with confidence in no time.
In the meantime, here are the most popular tooth replacement options.
Dental Implants
A dental implant is a prosthetic tooth root that’s made of a titanium alloy. Your dentist will place the implant in your jaw. Over the next several months, the implant will fuse to your jawbone. Once this happens, we’ll place an abutment and crown over top. This will give you the full function and appearance of a natural tooth.
When you lose a tooth, your body will absorb the minerals in your jaw to use elsewhere. Since the tooth and its roots are gone, your body figures that you don’t need those minerals anymore. The result is bone loss in the jaw.
If left untreated, bone loss can lead to facial collapse. This condition alters your face shape so it appears more sunken. Facial collapse may also make it difficult to wear dentures.
The good news is that dental implants can prevent bone loss in the jaw. The dentist will place the implant in your jaw, which exerts pressure like a natural tooth root would. This tricks your body into leaving the minerals in your jaw alone.
Dental Bridge
As the name suggests, a dental bridge helps to “bridge” the gap between two teeth. A dental bridge contains a prosthetic tooth that’s anchored in place by crowns on both sides.
Your dentist will place these crowns on either dental implants or natural teeth. Together, the prosthetic tooth and the crowns make up your dental bridge.
One of the is that they help keep your other teeth in place. That way, they don’t drift toward the empty socket, loosen, and fall out. But, like dentures, they won’t prevent bone loss in the jaw if they don’t include implants.
If you have healthy teeth on both sides of the gap, we may recommend a dental implant instead. That way, we’ll be able to leave the healthy teeth intact. Otherwise, we’d have to file down and shape the adjacent teeth to make room for the crowns.
Depending on your circumstances, a dental implant may be less invasive than the bridge procedure.
Dentures
A denture is a removable oral appliance that replaces the look and function of natural teeth. Depending on the extent of tooth loss, we may recommend either a full or partial denture. While a partial denture replaces one or a few teeth, a full denture replaces an entire arch of teeth.
Dentures are more affordable than dental implants. But they don’t solve the problem of jawbone deterioration. This is because your dentures rest on top of your gums.
Your dentures may slip if you cough, sneeze, or make any other abrupt movement. But otherwise, your dentures should stay in place as you go about your day. To correct slipping dentures, bite down gently and swallow.
While it may take some time to get used to dentures, they can greatly improve your quality of life. Our patients are able to live normal lives and eat the foods they love with dentures.
Learn More About Your Tooth Replacement Options
Our dentists in Grand Rapids, MI, are accepting new patients. To request an appointment, and learn more about your tooth replacement options, please call Advance Dental at (616) 956-9183. You may also fill out our online contact form and someone from our office will reach out to you soon.
