A missing tooth can significantly change the appearance of your smile. Missing teeth can also affect the integrity of your jawbone, your speech, and your ability to chew food, especially when your teeth are slowly shifting into the empty spaces. Fortunately, several options are available to replace your missing teeth and help restore your beautiful smile:
Dental implants are metal posts surgically inserted into the jawbone and help support a restorative crown, bridge, or denture. They are an excellent solution for replacing one or more teeth lost through injury, gum disease, or other oral health issues.
A full-arch lower denture would need four implants in this option, while an upper denture may require six implants for support. All-on-Four Implant Supported Dentures will have two implants inserted right at the front of the arch while the remaining two implants are placed on both sides at a 45° angle tilting towards the back of the mouth. The overdenture is fitted onto the dental implants using special attachments.
An implant-supported fixed bridge could help restore a complete arch of teeth using fewer dental implants. The number of implants required can vary depending on the number of teeth being restored.
A tooth-supported fixed bridge could substitute for implant-supported restorations, notably where a single tooth is missing. A tooth-supported fixed bridge consists of two crowns, usually secured onto the teeth on both sides of the gap serving as abutment teeth. The abutment crowns are fitted to the replacement teeth, which are called pontics.
The bridge, permanently bonded in position, can be made from materials like gold, precious metal alloys, porcelain, or a combination of these materials.
A removable partial denture is fabricated to replace one or more missing teeth in the same arch and may or may not be adjacent. The denture consists of an acrylic base strengthened with a metal framework. It has metal clasps that can be secured over your existing natural teeth to keep the denture firmly in position but still removable.
Removable complete dentures rest on top of the gums and are an economical and non-invasive alternative to dental implants. Dentures consist of an acrylic gum-colored base on which the artificial teeth are attached.
A flipper tooth is a temporary partial denture that can restore one or more missing teeth. Its chief purpose is to fill in any unattractive gaps so that you can smile and talk without being conscious about it. A flipper tooth is only used until a more permanent replacement can be attached.
If you are looking for a way to replace missing teeth, consult our dentist Dr. Jayme Alencar Oliveira before making your final decision. Call us today at (757) 546-0301 to schedule an appointment for your dental consultation.Â
MON - FRI 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
SAT - SUN Closed
