Tooth Replacement South Edmonton
Lost teeth can be incredibly detrimental to your quality of life. They make it difficult for you to chew, impacting your nutrition, and they can affect your speech and your self-confidence, potentially impacting your career and your personal relationships.
Missing teeth are also detrimental to your dental health. Remaining teeth tend to shift toward the open space, causing problems with your alignment. When a tooth is missing, the periodontal bone also starts to resorb in that area, and over time, this can lead to further tooth loss.
We offer several options to help replace missing teeth, and Dr. Dennis George Anithottam is happy to meet with you to discuss these options and determine which is right for you.
Dental Implants
Dental implants replace your missing tooth with an artificial root and a crown or other restoration. The implant itself is a small titanium screw that is surgically placed in your periodontal bone. After the area is allowed to heal, a customised restoration, like a crown, is affixed to the implant.
Implants look and feel quite lifelike. They also have an advantage over other tooth replacement options because the implant stimulates the bone and helps to prevent resorption (bone loss over time). If one or more of your teeth are missing, there are a number of ways to replace them. An alternative to bridges, partials or complete dentures may be dental implants. Implants are used to replace missing roots and support artificial replacement teeth. They are comfortable and look like natural teeth.
What are dental implants?
A dental implant is an artificial root made of titanium metal. It is inserted into the jawbone to replace the root of the natural tooth. An artificial replacement tooth is attached to the implant. The implant acts as an anchor to hold the replacement tooth in place.
For successful dental implants there must be enough bone in your jaw to support the implant. Dental implants may not be right for you if you have gum disease and alternative treatment options may be recommended. Practicing good oral hygiene is key after you receive your dental implants to ensure they stay healthy.
Dental Bridges
Dental Bridges are a less costly alternative to dental implants and can be used to replace one or more adjacent missing teeth. A bridge is a replacement tooth (called a pontic) that is held in place by crowns, which are affixed to the healthy adjacent teeth. If you are missing multiple teeth and don’t wish to alter otherwise healthy teeth, dental implants are also an option for supporting a bridge.
If you are missing teeth you will want to have the gaps between them filled as your remaining teeth can shift position and alter your bite. The shift in your remaining teeth can lead to jaw pain, headaches, and periodontal disease.
There are multiple options for dental bridges
- Traditional Bridges use the two teeth next to the missing teeth as anchors for a false tooth to fill its spot
- Maryland bonded bridges consists of a false tooth which have been bonded to a set of “wings” on either side. The false tooth is then bonded to the teeth on either side of the missing one to hold it in place
- Cantilever bridges are used when there are teeth on one side of the missing tooth. This is not common and is not recommended as it can put too much force on other teeth and cause damage.
There are numerous benefits of having dental bridges
- Help prevent teeth from shifting out of place
- Help restore bite functionality by replacing missing teeth
- Dental bridges distribute force evenly restoring the health of your bite
- Enhancing your smile and boosting your self confidence
Partial Dentures
Partial dentures are often a good choice for those who are missing multiple teeth. Unlike a full denture, which relies on suction (and sometimes adhesives) to stay in place, the partial denture is supported by clips that fit into place around your healthy teeth.
Orchards Dental - South Edmonton
Tooth Replacement in Edmonton
A full-service family oriented South Edmonton dental clinic
1504 91 Street SW #6
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Complete Dentures
If you are missing all your teeth, complete dentures (also known as dental plates) are an option. Depending on the condition of your mouth, even the best complete dentures can sometimes still feel loose. At Orchards Dental, we can place dental implants to support your complete denture, making it more retentive and comfortable and helping it stay more secure in your mouth.
Partial or Complete Dentures
We design dentures to meet the needs of our patients to replace their missing teeth. Dentures will help you speak clearly and eat more efficiently. Dentures are created using high quality materials such as metal or acrylic. They are also designed to be self cleansing to preserve the remaining teeth and oral tissues. The partial dentures will be designed so force is evenly distributed when you chew. There may be cases where work will be done on your existing teeth to make sure everything is even. It is preferred to use metal partials as they are structurally superior to their acrylic counterpart. Metal partials are also thinner and more hygienic, and acrylics are usually used as temporary partial dentures.
Why wear dentures?
After losing all your teeth, the muscles in your face can begin to sag causing you to look much older than you actually are. Dentures are a cost-effective solution designed to resemble your natural teeth so that your natural appearance will not change. If you are missing all your teeth, then dentures can provide you with a more confident smile while providing better support for your mouth's structure. Dentures help those who need them continue to eat the foods they love that require chewing so they can continue to maintain a well-balanced diet.
How long can dentures last?
Dentures are made of artificial material which means they are durable and with the proper care can last for a long period of time. The most common reason why anyone would need to replace their dentures is that as we get older our jawbone naturally changes like resorption of the jawbone leading to loosening of your dentures. Regular checkups with Dr. Dennis and Orchards Dental can help reline/rebase loose dentures.
Which Tooth Replacement Option Is Right for Me?
Compared to other tooth replacement options, dental implants are the most similar to your natural teeth. While bridges and partial dentures don’t offer the same bone retention benefits of dental implants, they do prevent teeth from shifting and altering your bite. They are often a more affordable solution for many patients.
No matter which tooth replacement you and Dr. Dennis George Anithottam decide on, your new restoration will be designed specifically for you so that it blends in well with your existing dentistry. Your smile is an important part of your appearance and personality, and we want to help you have a smile you love and are proud to show off.
To learn more, please call our Edmonton dental office and schedule an evaluation with Dr. Dennis George Anithottam. We’re looking forward to helping you have a complete and healthy smile.
When a tooth is lost, changes occur to the other teeth, the gums and the bone in the area adjacent to the tooth. Teeth nearby will begin to drift into space previously occupied by the extracted tooth, and your overall bite pattern may change as a result. The gums and bone in the area will begin to shrink away, resulting in a loss of bone in the area.
There are a number of options available for 