What solution should you consider to replace missing teeth?
You have several options to replace your missing teeth: dental implants, bridges or dentures. Each option has its pros and cons, depending on the health of your teeth and your budget. At Annapolis Dental Care, we will evaluate your teeth and gums and help you choose the option that will work best for you.
Dental Implants
Dental implants feel and function just like your natural teeth. They are permanent fixtures of titanium posts, which are anchored to the jawbone and topped with individual replacement teeth or a bridge that screws or cements into the posts.
Bridges
A bridge is a dental restoration that spans an area that has no teeth and is connected to natural teeth at each end. A typical bridge consists of a filler tooth that is attached to two surrounding abutments or crowns. After completion, this bridge structure is then bonded into the mouth.
Dentures
Dentures, partial or complete, replace either the bottom arch or the top arch of your mouth.
The Advantages of Replacing Teeth with Dental Implants
- Your mouth will be restored as closely as possible to its natural state
- Further tooth loss is deterred. When a bridge “goes bad”, it usually means the loss of one or more teeth that support the bridge
- No need to cut down adjacent teeth
The Advantages of Replacing Teeth with Dentures
- They are usually the least expensive
Why Dental Implants are Often the Best Solution
While fixed bridges and removable dentures have their place, they are not always the best solution. Removable dentures may slip or cause embarrassing clicking sounds while eating or speaking.
Of even greater concern, fixed bridges often require the partial cutting of adjacent healthy teeth, and removable dentures may lead to bone loss in the area where the tooth or teeth are missing. Recurrent decay, periodontal (gum) disease and other factors often doom fixed bridgework to early failure. For these reasons, fixed bridges and removable dentures usually need to be replaced every 7 to 15 years, compared to an average 25-year life span for dental implants.
Get In Touch With Annapolis Dental Care Today
If you want to find out more about getting your ideal smile or to schedule your next visit, please contact Annapolis Family Dental Care by calling (410) 267-0766 or visit AnnapolisDentalCare.com today! We can give you more information, or schedule your appointment. Our diligent knowledge of all dental treatments and extensive experience in all fields of dentistry, ensure Annapolis Dental is best suited to care for your oral health. You can also follow Annapolis Dental Care on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.