Are you struggling with tooth loss? You’re not alone. Roughly 178 million Americans are missing at least one tooth. Dental decay, gum disease, bone disease, or trauma are among the reasons for tooth loss. As important as it is to preserve your natural teeth, sometimes a tooth is beyond saving. In these situations, patients wonder what their options are for new teeth, their best route, and how long they will have to wait for results. Sometimes, patients even wonder whether they need to replace their missing tooth at all.
At San Francisco East Bay Mini Dental Implants, Dr. Rose Magno advises patients to replace their missing teeth and offers several tooth replacement options to meet their needs.
The Importance of Replacing Missing Teeth
A missing tooth opens the door to various dental health issues, so it’s vital to replace it.
Having all of your teeth is important for proper bite and oral function. When a tooth falls out, the surrounding teeth shift to fill the gap. This causes misalignment, overcrowding, and potential bite issues. Shifting teeth can even make it harder to clean your teeth properly.
Gaps from missing teeth become traps for food debris and bacteria to build up, increasing your risk of gum infections and tooth decay in adjacent teeth. You may experience difficulty chewing and eating, which can lead you to avoid certain foods. Limiting your diet can lead to poor nutrition and affect your overall mood, as you miss out on the foods you enjoy.
When you lose a tooth, you also lose the root that supports it. Your tooth roots are important for stimulating your jawbone through chewing. The jawbone can shrink or deteriorate over time when this stimulation is lost. In turn, your facial appearance alters, and you may even notice an “aged” look or sunken facial appearance. To avoid the complications that come with missing teeth, Dr. Magno offers long-lasting and durable tooth replacement options.
Advanced Options for New Teeth
Dental innovation is a gift for dentists and patients alike. It gives us high-quality options to offer patients a path to a new, improved smile.
Dental Bridge
If you’re missing one tooth, a dental bridge can fill the gap. Dr. Magno offers several bridge options. The most common is a traditional fixed bridge, which relies on two healthy teeth on both sides of the gap for support. A traditional dental bridge consists of a pontic, the artificial tooth that fills the space of the missing tooth. The natural teeth on either side of the gap support the bridge are considered abutment teeth. The pontics are attached to dental crowns that fit over the abutment teeth and anchor the bridge in place.
A popular choice for a dental bridge is an implant-supported one. It is similar to a traditional bridge, but we use dental implants as anchors to support it. If you are missing three adjacent teeth, Dr. Magno will place two implants on each end of the gap. The bridge, which consists of three false teeth, is anchored to the implants. An implant-supported bridge is a fixed and long-lasting solution for replacing multiple missing teeth.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are versatile and can support more than bridges. They can also act as a standalone tooth replacement option. Dental implants are titanium posts that Dr. Magno inserts into your jawbone. Titanium is extremely biocompatible and naturally fuses with your bone, creating an incredibly strong foundation for false teeth. A dental implant can support a single crown or a set of dentures.
Dr. Magno offers mini dental implants, which are similar to dental implants but much smaller. Because they are so slim, Dr. Magno can place a mini dental implant using a simpler, quicker, and more straightforward procedure. Instead of making an incision in your gums, which is necessary for traditional implants, Dr. Magno will drill a small pilot hole through the gums and into the jawbone. She can insert the implant post and attach your false tooth on the same day. That way, you won’t go a single day without a harmonious smile.
Most patients are candidates for mini dental implants due to the low-impact procedure. Traditional implants require enough bone to accommodate their larger size. Without sufficient bone density, patients need a bone graft. Mini dental implants eliminate this extra procedure, creating an accessible option for everyone suffering from tooth loss.
If you’re still unsure which option to choose, we welcome you to visit our office in Emeryville, California.
Your Path to a New Smile Begins Today—Learn More With Dr. Magno!
Missing teeth can impact your oral health and overall well-being. That’s why Dr. Magno advocates for patients to replace their missing teeth immediately. If you want to explore your options for new teeth, contact us today to schedule your consultation. We look forward to exploring a new path to a better smile, together.
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