While traditional dental implants are effective at filling the gap in your smile, they only go so far. The reality is teeth come with a root that also has important functions, and only dental implants take this part of the tooth into consideration. Not only can dental implants provide a tooth replacement that looks natural, but they can make basic functions like chewing and smiling feel natural as well. Before you decide on which tooth replacement option is best for you, call the dentists at Friedland Family Dentistry for an implant consultation!
When you need to replace multiple consecutive teeth, the traditional treatment options available consist of dental bridges and full/partial dentures.
With dental bridges, a series of crowns are fused together, with teeth in the center of the bridge filling the gap in your smile. The teeth on either end of the bridge would effectively sit on top of existing natural teeth, which meant they would have to be modified in order for the bridge to stay in place. While this can be a great and minimally invasive solution for tooth loss, it only addresses the top portion of teeth visible in your smile.
The same logic applies to both partial and full dentures, albeit existing tooth enamel does not necessarily have to be removed to have them placed. A partial denture relies on a metal framework to wrap around existing teeth, keeping the denture in place. Full dentures rely on the natural suction of gum tissue and the overall shape of the mouth to stay secure. This is an affordable and non-invasive way to rebuild your smile, but it does not influence the underlying bone tissue either.
In contrast to bridges and dentures, dental implants specifically integrate with your jawbone in order to create a reliable foundation for a future bridge or denture. When replacing multiple consecutive teeth, a pair of dental implants can effectively hold a bridge. To do this, our team captures detailed impressions of your mouth, then uses that impression to fabricate a restoration that fits exactly onto a series of dental implants. Once the implants have had time to integrate with your jaw, they can reliably hold the restoration.
With a dedicated series of dental implants holding your bridge or partial denture, you can expect: