CREATING STRONG, HEALTHY SMILES
Replace Missing or Broken-Down Teeth
Did you know that when you are missing teeth, your chewing ability can go down by as much as 30% by missing only one tooth?! Replacing missing or broken teeth is crucial to your oral health.
If you are missing some teeth, your remaining teeth have to work overtime to compensate for the loss of that missing tooth (or teeth), and will cause them to wear out and break down faster. Your remaining teeth will also have a tendency to shift around and drift into the spaces, even towards the opposing jaw.
When those teeth that move around tilt and shift, they become less efficient in chewing because the normal chewing surfaces are no longer touching the opposing teeth. Thus, you lose even more chewing ability.
Replace Missing Teeth
There are several ways that teeth can be replaced. We typically look at teeth replacements as either removable teeth or fixated (non-removable) teeth.
Realize that the more stable the prosthetic tooth replacement (less movement), the more chewing ability you will gain from that prosthetic.
Procedures That Can Be Performed to Replace Missing Teeth, or Teeth that Will Be Removed
Removable Teeth Options
10-75% chewing capacity
- Removable Partial Dentures
- Complete Dentures
- Complete Overdentures (snap-in dentures on dental implants)
- Complete Bar Overdentures (dentures that snap to a bar that’s between implants)
Fixated Teeth Options
90-100% chewing capacity
- Natural Tooth Bridge
- Single Dental Implant
- Short-Span Dental Implant Bridge
- Full Jaw Fixated Dental Implant Bridge (All-on-4):
- Resin-based Teeth – these give you all the functional capacity of fixated teeth but are a lower financial commitment than many other options. The drawback of these is that they are not as durable as ceramic-based teeth. They will stain, build up plaque more readily, and absorb odors like any other plastic or resin teeth.
- Ceramic-based Teeth – these give you great functional capabilities as well as the durability that you expect out of dental prosthetics. They will not stain easily, build up plaque like resin teeth, and will not absorb odors. They are kinder to gum tissue, resulting in a more hygienic prosthetic. If you are missing all of your teeth on one or both jaws, this truly is the best of the best.
What Will You Experience if You Do Not Replace Your Missing or Broken Teeth?
If you are missing some of your teeth, you will experience continued loss of existing teeth, and will have diminished chewing ability.
If you are missing all of your teeth, you will not have the ability to chew in comfort, speak with ease, or smile with the confidence you will gain with removable teeth when compared to non-removable teeth.