Teeth Replacement When Faced with Several Missing Teeth

Teeth Replacement for a Natural Looking Smile

Attractive, natural looking teeth help us feel and look our best. We are able to enjoy the foods we love, when we want. They allow us to be ourselves, confident where it really counts; at home, on the job, on the playing field, but most importantly and especially, on the inside. The loss or damage from several missing teeth can have a considerable impact on everyday life and self esteem. The immediate solution to lost or damaged teeth is teeth replacement. People rush to the dentist if their front teeth are damaged or lost to have them replaced. Why then do we wait if the teeth are not visible when we smile? Are they less important? The answer is NO, yet many years can go by without replacement.

Ignorance is Not Bliss

Ignoring these gaps has a more considerable negative effect than you may even realize. When we chew, a healthy tooth strengthens the quality of bone in our jaw, similar to how exercise prevents bone loss. Healthy teeth tend to shift towards the open space when a gap from several missing teeth is present and the bone loss has started. Teeth in the opposing arch may also drop into the gap due to a loss of equal opposing force, which is simple physics. This affects how our upper and lower teeth meet and align. Our patients may also notice how missing teeth will affect how pressure is applied on the existing teeth and surrounding muscles and joints. Additional pressure may result in pain and various other symptoms such as headaches or migraines. That’s why you should consider dental implants as an alternative to dentures.

An alternative to dentures

Dental professionals have used and accepted dental implants for over 40 years as a proven and trusted method of teeth replacement when faced with several missing teeth. Implants are made of biocompatible materials, namely titanium. As a result your body will accept them and allergic reactions are very rare. They look and feel much more natural, making them an ideal alternative to dentures. With proper care and good oral hygiene your implant can actually last a lifetime.

You should consider teeth replacement as soon as possible after after loss or damage for best results, because the condition of your bone in the jaw is crucial. Adequate bone is necessary for implant placement. As time passes, the bone in the area of the several missing teeth begins to resorb or diminish, thereby reducing the “prime retail space” for the implants as anchors. In many cases it is possible to build up the boney area to permit optimal implant placement and integration.

Natural in Look and Feel

Implant dentists will place two or more implants, which serve as artificial roots,  within the gap created by several missing teeth and a ceramic bridge (usually consisting of 3 or more teeth) is affixed to the implants. As a result, your implants will be comfortable and the ceramic teeth will feel natural and match in colour and contour as well. This makes it a challenge to distinguish your natural teeth to your “new” ones. These advantages make it a superior alternative to dentures.

In ideal cases, dental professionals can place your implant in as little as one session. However, your treatment plan will be dependent on your particular clinical situation. Depending on the treatment procedure, it may take between one and two hours for the placement of the implants. Afterwards, the implants needs time to integrate so they can fuse with the bone, which is is why the quality of the bone is so important when placing implants; the better the bone quality, the better the conditions and shorter integration periods. Our dentists make preparations for the final restorations once the implants have integrated.

Custom Made Just for You

Our dentists fabricate your custom made precision bridge using biocompatible materials and attach them to the implants using cement or tiny screws. The bridge consists of your new teeth, looking and feeling like your own. Ensuring proper oral hygiene and keeping up with professional dental check ups will result in your implants lasting for many years, possibly up to an entire lifetime.

Our dentists will use an implant supported removable partial denture when the patient may not have sufficient bone in all areas of missing teeth. Two or three implants may be placed and a removable partial denture secured to them.

Adapted from Nobel Biocare USA LLC., www.nobelsmile.com