When you meet someone for the first time, one of the first things this person will notice is your smile. A full set of teeth will enhance your smile and appearance. Unfortunately, though teeth are strong and durable, they can be damaged and fall out due to injury or decay. Replacing missing teeth can restore your smile and allow you to eat and speak normally again.
Options for missing teeth are available at Oak Tree Dental in Poway and the surrounding area. You should speak to our team about which options make the most sense for your budget and needs. We can provide you with a solution that you can feel good about. Call us today at (858) 748-2101 and schedule an appointment.
Available treatments
The good news for patients who are missing teeth is that there are effective options to correct these issues. An evaluation will factor in a person's medical history, the severity of oral health conditions, and how many teeth are missing to decide on the preferred treatment option. Options our team might recommend include:
- Dentures: These can be full or partial. Dentures are removable and made to look like natural teeth.
- Implants: This process takes longer than other options, but implants are more durable. Implants work well for patients who are missing multiple teeth.
- Bridges: As an article on WebMD explains, this treatment fixes artificial teeth to crowns over natural teeth. Bridges can stop surrounding teeth from shifting.
All treatment options have benefits and challenges. Therefore, it is essential for both the patient and the dentist to openly discuss what is available. Then decide on the right fit.
“An evaluation will factor in a person’s medical history, the severity of oral health conditions, and how many teeth are missing to decide on the preferred treatment option.”
Durability comparison of tooth replacement options
Durability is a critical factor when choosing a long-term treatment option. How long something will last impacts the time it takes out of your life and how much it will cost. The last thing a patient wants is to return to the office every couple of years for more dental work treating the same issues.
Implants are the most durable option. According to an article in Healthline, this is the main advantage of dental implants. These titanium false teeth can last up to 20 years with proper care and maintenance. Implants also replace a tooth's roots and can make this system as stable as natural roots.
Bridges will not last as long as implants, but this combination of artificial teeth, crowns, and natural teeth can serve a patient well for a decade or longer. It is not removable, but routine visits with your doctor will help monitor the bridge for wear.
Dentures are a moderately durable option and typically require replacement more often than implants and bridges. Patients will need to replace them every seven to eight years. However, the patient should be able to eat most foods with dentures.
“The last thing a patient wants is to return to the office every couple of years for more dental work treating the same issues.”
Implant-supported options
Another treatment option for tooth loss is a dental implant, which is becoming a more common option for complete teeth replacement. We offer several different types of implant styles depending on the patient's lifestyle, oral health, and preferences. An alternative is to get implant-supported dentures. This is a method of teeth replacement that features the structure of implants and the flexibility of dentures.
- Dental Implants. Dental implants are a permanent* (see results note) option for complete teeth replacement. More than 3 million people have dental implants, according to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. Dentists place titanium posts into the gums during implant surgery and later attach a tooth crown to each post for a brand new set of artificial teeth.
- Implant-Supported Dentures. Another option combines technology from both dentures and implants. Implant-supported dentures use surgery to place metal implants into the gums. After healing, the dentist then places a custom-made denture of artificial teeth onto the posts. Patients have a more secure fit but must remove the dentures each night for cleaning.
“Another treatment option for tooth loss is a dental implant, which is becoming a more common option for complete teeth replacement.”
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Google: Options for Replacing Missing Teeth in Poway, CA
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Google: The process of replacing all teeth
When a patient is ready to go forward with complete teeth replacement, our team can guide them through the process. After deciding on a complete teeth replacement, our team schedules a consultation. We evaluate the mouth and gums and take X-rays. Then, the dental provider recommends treatment. Before getting dentures or implants, our dentist will remove any other remaining teeth or diseased gum tissue.
With dentures and implants, the dentist measures the mouth before treatment begins. We take impressions to get the right dimensions for the new prosthetic. Afterward, that information goes to the lab for a custom fit. After the lab creates the dentures, they may require several fitting appointments to ensure comfort. Patients who need implants will schedule surgery to place the implants. Then, there may be an appointment to place abutments onto the posts. A few months later, the dentist places the individual implants onto the metal posts.
“After deciding on a complete teeth replacement, our team schedules a consultation.”
Questions answered on this page
Q. How can a dentist replace missing teeth?
Q. What is the most durable option for replacing missing teeth?
Q. What are implant supported options to replace all teeth?
Q. What is the overall process of replacing all my teeth?
People also ask
Q. Who is a good candidate for dental implants?
Q. What happens during the dental implant procedure?
Q. What are the benefits of dental implants?
Frequently asked questions
Not replacing missing teeth can lead to various problems with oral health. Along with that, it can help to restore one's smile. Complete teeth replacement helps improve speech, eating, appearance, and oral health.
Patients with dentures or implant-supported dentures may need to avoid foods such as carrots, apples, nuts, and tough cuts of meat. With dental implants, there is no need to adjust the diet. Whatever one eats, it is important to continue to brush and floss regularly after getting dentures or implants.
After getting implants, there is no adjustment period because they act and feel like real teeth. Wearing dentures for the first time may require an adjustment of about 30 days. Patients may feel a little discomfort in the jawbone as their mouth gets used to the dentures.
Dental implant patients can continue their normal oral hygiene routine of brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash. Patients with dentures or implant-supported dentures should rinse the dentures after each meal and soak them in a cleaning solution at night. All patients should continue to make regular appointments with their dental provider.
Dentures are typically replaced every five to 10 years. The bridge from implant-supported dentures may also need replacement after time. Dental implants can last for decades, so they may never need replacement.
Dental implant terminology
An abutment is a component that attaches to the dental implant so a professional can place a dental crown to provide patients with an artificial, aesthetically pleasing and fully-functional smile.
Bone augmentation is the process in which a medical professional rebuilds the bone to strengthen it enough for the placement of dental implants.
Multiple replacement teeth that are fixed in place via attachment to dental implants, natural adjacent teeth, or a combination of the two.
A crown is an artificial tooth, usually consisting of porcelain, which covers the top of the implant to provide people with an aesthetically pleasing and fully-functional tooth.
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that is placed into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge. Dental implants may be an option for people who have lost a tooth or teeth due to periodontal disease, an injury, or some other reason.
Endosteal is a type of dental implant that a professional places in the alveolar and basal bone of the mandible that transcends only one cortical plate.
Eposteal is a type of dental implant that conforms to whichever edentulous surface of an alveolar bone is superior.
An implant-supported bridge is a dental bridge that professionals fix in place with the use of dental implants inserted in the jaw to create a sturdy set of artificial teeth.
An oral irrigator is a type of water-flosser device that uses a stream of water to clean between the teeth and improve gingival health.
Osseointegration is the process in which a titanium dental implant fuses with the surrounding bone over several months after an oral health professional places the implant in the jaw.
A removable complete denture is a complete denture that people can remove when necessary, at night, or to clean.
A resin bonded bridge is a dental bridge that professionals fix to the surrounding teeth with a type of resin to provide patients with a long-lasting solution.
Resorption is the process in which the body absorbs the calcium from the jaw since there are no tooth roots to cause the necessary stimulation and proceeds to use the calcium in other areas.
It is time to start feeling confident about your appearance
You may be amazed by what a big difference a new smile makes. Our staff is eager to help restore your mouth and looks. Call us today at 858-748-2101 so you can replace your missing teeth. You can feel more at ease about eating, speaking, and meeting new people in Poway.
Individual results vary. How long a treatment lasts, and how it looks and feels, depends on each patient. *"Permanent" means fixed rather than removable.