Missing teeth can affect you in many ways. First of all, it can make it difficult to eat. Your ability to bite and chew food may be compromised depending on how many teeth you are missing. This reflects in your eating patterns, having to rely more and more on soft foods that are easy to swallow without chewing. Tooth loss can also affect your appearance, making you look older due to sunken cheeks. Finally, it can make you self-conscious about your smile, which may lead you to conceal it. This can cause you to look unapproachable and affect your social interactions and mood! As you can see, this is a complex issue that requires your attention, and in this article, you will find different teeth replacement options in our dentist near you.
Dentures
Dentures are probably the most affordable teeth replacement system. They consist of an acrylic resin base that holds a set of fake porcelain teeth. The acrylic base is custom-made to look exactly like your gums, making your fake teeth look as natural as possible. There are different types of dentures, with the most common being partial and complete. Complete dentures are meant to replace all of your teeth and are destined for patients with no natural teeth. On the other hand, partial dentures only replace part of your smile and use the natural teeth you have left for support.
The benefits of dentures are their affordability, the fact that they are removable and how fast they are made. Unlike other teeth replacement procedures, with dentures, you can visit a dentist in St. Albert and have your new set of removable teeth in a few days.
Bridges
Another option for people who have lost some teeth is dental bridges. These artificial teeth fill a gap in your smile while anchoring to two adjacent teeth (called abutment teeth) cemented with dental crowns for more stability. Different types of bridges have different indications, but some are so stable and strong that they can even replace molars. This is a great option for people who can’t endure the surgical procedures that involve acquiring dental implants near you, such as diabetics.
However, there is a downside to this treatment. For the dental crowns to be placed on the abutment teeth, they must be filed down, getting rid of their enamel and a good amount of healthy dental tissue. As a result, these teeth will always need a dental crown, or they can be lost.
Dental Implants
If you are considering dental implants near you, then you should probably go ahead and acquire them. These are arguably the best option for replacing teeth. It is a long process that can take months but, in the end, it is worth it. The reason why dentists love dental implants is that, unlike the other two teeth replacement systems, this one involves the introduction of an artificial root into the jawbone, which gives the teeth more stability and strength while promoting bone growth at the same time. This is very important because as soon as you lose a tooth, the gums and jawbone surrounding it shrink and deteriorate. Dental implants can stop this while making you look as young as ever.
Another benefit of dental implants is not considering cavities since the crowns are porcelain. However, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t brush your teeth since tooth decay is not the only issue that can arise from bad oral hygiene.