Permanent vs. Removable Tooth Loss Solutions
Woodland, CA
 Tooth loss occurs for a variety of reasons. No matter how you lose your teeth, however, the effects are all the same. Eating and speaking, basic functions you barely spend any time thinking about, become difficult. Your smile is affected, which can deteriorate your confidence. You also begin to lose bone mass in the jaw, which then leads to your healthy teeth shifting out of alignment and throwing off your bite. Replacing your missing teeth is essential to restoring the functions of your mouth, your oral health, and your smile. There are both permanent and removable solutions for tooth loss. Beautiful Smiles can help you to decide the best option for your needs.
Bridges are a traditional solution for replacing one, two or three missing teeth in any given area of your mouth. There are a few different types of bridges, the most common being a fixed bridge. This bridge, typically made from ceramic or porcelain, consists of the replacement teeth set between two dental crowns. The crowns are used to anchor the bridge in place on the healthy teeth on both sides of the space. A bridge requires the removal of some of the enamel from these teeth to create the necessary space. The bridge is then cemented into place, making it a non-removable option. While considered permanent, bridges do not stop bone loss in the jaw, and therefore may need to be replaced over time as the jaw weakens underneath the replacement teeth.
Partial and full dentures are traditional, removable solutions for replacing missing teeth. Partial dentures replace sections of missing teeth while full dentures replace an entire arch. These restorations consist of an acrylic base that supports your replacement teeth. The base is designed to sit directly on your gums and relies on the gums for support. They are meant to be removed each night for special cleaning and should be left out of your mouth, soaking in a denture cleaning solution, while you sleep. This gives your gums, the tissue that was not made to support the pressures put on them by dentures, a chance to rest and recover. Dentures also do not stop the bone loss that occurs following tooth loss, and therefore need to be replaced periodically to accommodate the changing jaw.
Dental implants are a more recent option for replacing missing teeth but have quickly become the most popular. They can be used to replace any number of missing teeth, whether you are missing only one or you are missing all of them. Implants use small titanium posts that are surgically implanted into the jawbone. The bone fuses to the posts as you heal, integrating the posts into the jaw. Successful fusion turns the posts into stable roots that hold your replacement crowns securely in place. Dental implants are a permanent solution to tooth loss. The posts stimulate your jawbone just like your natural teeth, which restores the delivery of essential nutrients. This aids in stopping and preventing bone loss in the jaw, keeping the jaw strong and healthy.
Replacing your missing teeth, no matter how many you lose, is essential for restoring your quality of life. Call Beautiful Smiles today to schedule your consultation and discuss your options for tooth replacement at (530) 206-9211.
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