Ways to Replace a Missing Tooth

You cannot deny the importance of a strong, healthy smile. Your teeth allow you to chew properly and speak clearly, but they can also determine your confidence. A clean, beautiful smile will fill you with confidence. So, what do you do if you are missing one or more teeth? Don’t worry, there are plenty of ways to replace a missing tooth.

An estimated 178 million Americans are missing at least one tooth. Similarly, about 40 million are missing all of their teeth. So, you’re not the only one. Although adult teeth are meant to last your entire life, they can be lost through tooth decay, gum disease, and physical trauma. It takes quite a while for tooth loss to occur through decay and gum disease. So, make sure you keep up with your regular appointments with your Easton, PA dentist at College Hill Dental Group to catch it in time. This, coupled with a thorough dental hygiene routine, will keep your teeth strong and healthy.

However, if you already have a missing tooth, here are a couple of ways Easton PA, dentists can help restore your smile:

Dental Implants for Missing Teeth

Dental implants are among the most popular treatments for tooth replacement in Easton, PA. If you are missing at least one tooth, you are a good candidate for a dental implant. The implant is a titanium cylinder or screw that is planted into your jawbone. This acts as a root for your artificial tooth. The procedure can take a couple of visits, but it can also be done in a day if your Easton, PA dentist has the required equipment. Essentially, the dentist cuts into the gum and installs the implant right into your jawbone. 

As the wound heals, the implant and jawbone will use together, providing a strong, stable base for a dental crown. The crown is a tooth-colored and tooth-shaped shell that is cemented onto the implant and acts as the new tooth. However, if your jawbone isn’t dense and wide enough to support the implant, your dentist in Easton, PA, may recommend a bone graft beforehand. Dr. O’Grady, a Denver, CO dentist, adds that an implant might not work for you if you have additional dental problems, such as gum disease. Only because it could compromise the dental implant’s success. Contact College Hill Dental Group for a consultation to see if you are a suitable candidate for dental implants.

Dental Bridges for Missing Teeth

Like implants, a dental bridge is another popular prosthetic used to replace missing teeth. However, instead of using a surgically installed implant to hold an artificial tooth in place, your cosmetic dentist in Easton, PA, will use a bridge. This is held in place by the teeth on either side of the gap to replace the missing tooth. The dental bridge is essentially an artificial tooth called a pontic, and it is propped up and held in place by the adjacent teeth, called abutment teeth. Pontics are usually made from tooth-colored materials to blend with the rest of your smile.

Bridges work best when you have strong, natural teeth on either side of the gap to support the pontic. A traditional dental bridge consists of the false tooth or teeth held in place between two dental crowns. Your dentist then cements the crowns onto each of the abutment teeth, thus ‘bridging’ the gap between your teeth without digging into your jawbone. A dental bridge will help restore your smile, your ability to chew properly and prevent your teeth from shifting. Contact College Hill Dental Group to see if you are eligible for a bridge.

Dentures for Missing Teeth

Admit it, you probably thought of dentures when the topic of missing teeth came up. Dentures have been around for a while, and the technology has improved greatly in the past couple of years. If you’ve lost most or all of your teeth, you may be a candidate for dentures. A denture is an artificial set of teeth and gums, specifically designed to fit your mouth and replace lost or removed natural teeth. There are two types of dentures.

Types of Dentures

Complete dentures replace all the teeth in the upper or lower arch of your mouth. There are two types of complete dentures:

• Conventional dentures – Are made after teeth have been removed, and the gums have started healing, and they are usually ready to be placed 8 to 12 weeks after teeth have been removed.
• Immediate dentures – Are made in advance and can be placed right after the teeth have been removed. These are usually considered temporary until the conventional dentures are ready for placement. 

Partial dentures are used when you still have one or more natural teeth in your upper or lower jaw. A partial denture usually consists of artificial teeth attached to a pink or gum-colored base connected to a metal framework that holds the denture in place in your mouth. It works like a bridge, where one or more artificial teeth are held in place by crowns cemented to the teeth on either side of the gap. The precision partial dentures offered at College Hill Dental Group are removable, and they have internal attachments that attach to the adjacent crowns for support.

As you can see, there are many different choices when it comes to tooth replacement options in Easton, PA. Our dentists in 18042 have been restoring smiles for years, and we would like to help you too. Contact us today for a consultation.