Are you wondering how to replace missing teeth? If so, you may be missing a single tooth or several teeth and want to replace them. Doing so allows you to have a confident and fully functioning smile once again.
Perhaps you’re wondering why you should bother replacing missing teeth in the first place? Aside from the fact that missing teeth leave unsightly gaps in your smile, your oral health can also suffer as a result. Here are the key reasons you should replace missing teeth.
- When a tooth is missing, the adjacent teeth start to move towards the gap in an attempt to fill it, and this can lead to malocclusion.
- As these adjacent teeth start to shift, there’s a tendency for them to loosen in their sockets, which in turn, could lead to further tooth loss.
- When teeth are lost, the mouth doesn’t function as well as it should. Tasks such as biting, chewing, and even talking can be affected.
- Missing teeth can also cause jaw shrinkage since when a tooth is missing, bone loss occurs as there is no tooth root to stimulate the jawbone.
- People often lose confidence when teeth are missing, especially if they are missing in prominent areas of the smile
How to replace missing teeth?
When it comes to replacing missing teeth the good news is that there are several options available. However, one that stands out from the rest is dental implants. A dental implant offers benefits that other tooth replacement treatments such as a denture or bridge can’t match. They are considered to be the gold standard of tooth replacement and their benefits include:
The Prevention of bone loss
When a tooth is lost, the bone tissue that once supported the natural tooth root is no longer required. As such, it gradually gets reabsorbed back into the body. Over time, ‘reabsorption’ causes the jawbone to shrink and the facial features to sag.
Fortunately, because a titanium dental implant is inserted directly into the jaw, it provides the necessary stimulation to stop the reabsorption process, putting an end to bone loss and in turn, helping to retain the facial structures.
The provision of a lifelike appearance
Dental implants are such that they match your natural teeth exactly. A dental implant is topped with an exquisitely crafted dental crown that is the same size, shape and colour as the surrounding teeth, while fitting seamlessly into the gap. The result is a natural-looking restoration that only you and your dentist will know about.
The (virtually) full restoration of bite force
Replacing missing teeth with dental implants doesn’t just improve the aesthetics of your smile it also improves the functionality of your bite. Because dental implants are anchored into the jaw they enable an individual to bite with almost the same level of force as they did when they had their natural teeth.
As a comparison, because dentures and bridges aren’t a permanent fixture in the mouth, they typically deliver somewhere between 25% and 35% of a natural bite. So while dentures and bridges typically involve the restriction of certain foods, dental implants allow you to eat what you like without compromise.
Dental implants improve speech
Tooth replacement options such as dental bridges and dentures can also affect speech. It’s not uncommon for a person wearing a bridge to suffer from a lisp or for a denture wearer to slur their words or have difficulty in pronouncing certain words properly. Because dental implants function and feel like natural teeth, a patient is able to speak easily and clearly without any problems.
A dental implant is cost-effective
Another benefit of replacing missing teeth with dental implants is that with proper care they have the potential to last for several decades. Although their initial cost is higher than for dentures or bridges, they can (with the right care) last for several decades or more.
When you consider that dentures and bridges have a limited shelf life of between 7-10 years and may need replacing several times during your lifetime, they could end up costing more in the long term than a dental implant.
No more embarrassing slippage
One of the downsides of dentures, in particular, is that they lose their fit over time as the jaw changes shape due to bone loss. As a result, they have an embarrassing tendency to slip and slide when a person is speaking or eating or even to fall out. Consequently, many denture wearers lose the confidence to socialise.
Alternatively, because dental implants are firmly secured in the jaw, they remain in place all of the time and enable the wearer to smile, eat, and speak with confidence.
If you’re wondering how to replace missing teeth then why not come and speak to the experienced friendly team here at Dental 266. One of the best things about dental implants is their versatility. No matter how many teeth you need replacing or even if you don’t have any teeth at all, we can provide a custom dental implant solution. Why not schedule a consultation to discuss your best teeth replacement options today.
Disclaimer: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner
