No one wants to suffer from tooth loss. Losing a tooth can lead to problems with your remaining teeth, the bone that supported your tooth, and even your own confidence. At Thrive Dental Studio in Portland, Maine, we want to help you have a healthier mouth and a happier smile. That’s why we offer a number of tooth replacement options and other restorative dental procedures to make sure we can provide the best option to restore your smile.
What Is Restorative Dentistry?
Restorative dentistry includes all the procedures we do to fix your teeth. We fill your cavities, put a dental crown over your damaged and weakened teeth, and replace missing teeth with high-quality replacements. With restorative dentistry, special emphasis is put on restoring the function of your teeth, so you can chew and talk normally. We also care deeply about the way your smile looks. You can count on all tooth restorations to be both functional and attractive.
Tooth Replacement Procedures at Thrive Dental Studio
Dental Implants
A dental implant is an artificial tooth that provides a permanent solution for missing teeth. A special titanium screw is surgically placed into your jaw and acts as a sturdy root for a tooth replacement or a set of replacement teeth which are attached to the top of the implant. The implant actually fuses with your bone, making it very strong and durable tooth replacement. The implant procedure is reliable, and the tooth replacement feels and looks like a natural tooth. Implants are one of the best tooth replacement options and can help replace a single tooth, or implant bridges can fill in a gap from 2- 3 missing teeth.
Dental implants are an excellent choice for tooth replacement. They provide the feel of natural teeth and don’t damage any of the nearby teeth, but it does take a few months to heal before the permanent tooth replacement can be placed. Good candidates for dental implants have healthy bone and gums, which means this procedure is not for everyone. The cost of the implant can be intimidating, but the results are the next best thing to natural teeth.
Dental Crowns
A dental crown is not a tooth replacement, exactly. It’s more like a cap that covers up a very damaged or decayed tooth. Dental crowns create a very durable replacement tooth, and they are designed to match your existing teeth. They are a great choice for teeth that have large cavities or have been weakened by cracks and chips.
Dental crowns can also be attached to a dental implant. In this case, it would be a tooth replacement, as the implant and crown go in the place where a single tooth has fallen out or been extracted. While dental crowns do carry a high price tag, they are designed to last a decade or more.
Dental Bridges
A dental bridge is a set of replacement teeth attached to a metal structure that bridges a gap in your teeth. The bridge is fixed to two teeth on the sides of the gap. These two teeth will have dental crowns placed on them to help them support the bridge. A fixed bridge is a good option for people who are missing several teeth in a row. The bridge is fixed in place, so you can use the replacement teeth as normal. They are designed to look like the rest of your teeth, and they can be cared for with normal brushing and flossing.
Because they are permanent and require two dental crowns to be placed, getting a dental bridge is more costly than getting a removable fixture, such as a partial denture.
Dentures
Dentures are removable fixtures that hold replacement teeth. You can get removable partial dentures to replace some of your teeth, or you can get a full set of traditional dentures to replace all of your teeth. Most of the time, false teeth consist of an acrylic base that rests upon your gums with replacement teeth attached to the base. Partial dentures will include a clasp to hook around existing teeth. Dentures are one of the most cost effective tooth replacement options.
Dentures need to be taken out at night to be cleaned. Although dentures do allow you to eat and talk better than you could when your teeth were missing, they are not permanently fixed in your mouth, so they could click up and down or shift slightly while you are using them.
What Happens If You Don’t Replace Missing Teeth?
If you lose one or more teeth and don’t replace them, you could experience bone loss and your surrounding teeth could shift around or become loose. Teeth help fill out your facial structure, so if you don’t have teeth there, your face can get a sunk-in look. Losing teeth can even affect your digestion because you are less able to chew your food properly. Moreover, you will probably be self-conscious about opening your mouth in public.
Restorative Dental Care at Thrive Dental Studio in Portland, Maine
Modern dentistry has made tooth replacement much easier than in years past. If you are missing teeth, we encourage you to visit our Portland, ME dental office and talk with us about the treatment options available to you. Dr. Figueiredo and his experienced team will complete a physical examination, and discuss all of the missing tooth replacement options to find the best option for your unique situation. We give each patient individualized care. Helping restore smiles and improve oral health is something the entire staff is passionate about. Schedule your restorative dental care appointment today.
