Nobody likes to lose a tooth, especially an adult one where there are no more beneath it ready to erupt in its place. Losing a tooth means dealing with the fact that we will have a gap in our teeth. If the tooth lost is at the rear, some people might be tempted to ignore it as it isn’t really visible. A front tooth lost though, means a very visible gap, and most people will look at the best way to replace it.
It should be said that any missing teeth should really be replaced, even at the back of the mouth. Leaving a gap at the back can cause other teeth to start to move, potentially leading to a crooked smile. Finally, when a tooth is lost, the bone in that area is reabsorbed by the body. This can leave you with small facial shape changes that can make you look older, especially if several teeth have been lost.
Given that these teeth should be replaced, our Staines dentists now take a look at the solutions available for you.
Dentures have been around for a very long time, with the most rudimentary versions being discovered from around 2500BC. These would almost certainly have been cosmetic only and would bear no resemblance to modern sophisticated dentures. The good news is that modern dentures are now more comfortable and natural looking and provide a reasonable aesthetic choice for replacing any lost teeth. They are also likely to be a choice for anxious dental patients who find undergoing any procedure a significant challenge. Dentures often require no invasive intervention to have them fitted.
The less good news about dentures is that they are not always as stable as people would like. As they are secured in place by clips or suction, sometimes aided by denture adhesive, they can have a tendency to move around in the mouth. This can make eating some foods quite difficult and it is not unusual for wearers to avoid these foods and reduce their menu options when eating out. The movement in the mouth can also cause soreness of the gums due to friction and may also prove to cause embarrassment at just the wrong time.
Dentures are also fiddly to clean as they have to be removed from the mouth to do so and soaked overnight too. While greatly improved over the years then, dentures are perhaps a compromise option for most people.
We won’t spend too long on this option as, although it is effective and more secure than dentures, it does require that teeth either side of a gap, whether that is a single tooth gap or multiple teeth, need to be prepared so that a crown can be attached to secure the bridge in place. Most people would prefer not to have this done to otherwise healthy teeth for obvious reasons. Cleaning can be tricky too, especially beneath the bridge. It is a more secure option than dentures though and our Clarence Dental Practice team are happy to discuss this procedure in more detail if you would like to know more.
Increasingly considered to be the ‘gold standard’ of teeth replacement methods, dental implants offer benefits that dentures really don’t. The main ones of these are in their strength and stability.
The one especially beneficial thing that implants offer is that they don’t just provide a replacement crown part of the tooth, as the previous two methods do, but also the tooth root. This is important as it is this that provides stability. With a firmly secured tooth root (the actual ‘implant’ part), a crown can be attached to it via an abutment, leaving the tooth as strong and stable as a healthy natural tooth. Teeth implants also look and feel as close to a natural tooth as is currently possible.
Once placed and fully integrated into the jawbone, your dental implants can be looked after as you would your natural teeth, with good quality brushing, flossing and regular checks with the dentist and hygienist at our Staines practice. The main ‘downside’ to implants is that they do require some minor surgery and a little initial patience.
The placing of an implant is a complex procedure that can take longer than most others. It requires precise placement into small holes which have been created in the jawbone. This can sound daunting but should be no more uncomfortable than most other invasive treatments thanks to powerful local anaesthetics.
Once placed, the implant will gradually fuse together with the bone it is placed into. This can take approximately three months and you will need to take additional care during this time. Our implant dentist will explain this in more detail when you attend your initial consultation.
While implants do require a little patience for the final result to be achieved, most patients that have them, find that they offer real benefits and no longer have to have long term concerns about loose and unstable dentures. In our opinion, teeth implants offer the best solution and we are always happy to discuss them with any patient considering their tooth replacement options.
If you would like to discuss any of the above with us, or to make an initial appointment to see an implant dentist, please do give our friendly reception team a call. You can do this by calling the Clarence Dental Practice on 01784 463 695 today!
Address: 21a Clarence Street, Staines upon Thames, Surrey, TW18 4SU
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