Tooth replacement can be a challenging, somewhat daunting experience for many patients. Whether your teeth have worn down, or you have lost any teeth due to injury or high impact sports, illness or dental problems, the good news is that your missing teeth can be replaced in a way that looks almost exactly like your original teeth. This procedure is no longer traumatic and painful. Thanks to pain-free injections and advanced techniques, there are a number of treatment options on offer, each helping you regain your smile in a short space of time.
Keep reading to find out more about the most commonly used treatments for tooth replacement, which are dentures, implants and bridges.
Choosing the Right Tooth Replacement Treatment
All three of these treatments are made to replace one or more missing or malformed, malpositioned teeth. While they are very similar in some ways, they have unique differences in the application as well as use. How do you know which tooth replacement treatment is the right choice? This will ultimately come down to how many teeth you are replacing and how the teeth will be fixed. To understand how each compares, here is an overview of each type of treatment.
Dentures
Dentures are the best choice for patients who are missing multiple teeth and are cost sensitive. If tooth extraction of two or more teeth is required, dentures are often the most effective treatment. Dentures are also known as false teeth. They are designed to be removed at night. Custom made to fit your jaw, there are two types of dentures that are most commonly used – acrylic and chrome-cobalt. Acrylic dentures are easy to remove and clean. Chrome-cobalt dentures work the same way as acrylic, with a metal framework that increases stability and comfort.
Implants
Implants are the best choice for patients missing individual teeth , it does not require support from the adjacent teeth. Usually made of titanium to support tooth restoration, implants are fitted into the jaw. Once implanted, they very closely resemble natural teeth and function exactly the same as natural teeth. This means that implants are a natural-looking choice that is comfortable and non-intrusive. Implants can sometimes be used along with bridges and veneers if more than one tooth in different parts of the mouth is being replaced. Multiple implants can also be placed to support a fixed removable denture that fits on the implants and does not require to be taken out every night like normal dentures.
Bridges
Bridges are the best choice for patients who have single missing teeth and requires crowns on either or both adjacent teeth to fill the gaps or if one or both adjacent teeth requires crown due to root canal or has huge fillings. For missing large, flat teeth at the back of the mouth, bridges can add stability. They can be used in conjunction with implants. Bridges are joined to the teeth on either side of a gap, using custom moulds that are prepared on your first appointment. In some cases, bridges can even be done on the same day.
Gateway Dental makes tooth extraction and restoration as stress-free as possible, with a range of treatments that are made to help you find your smile once again. To learn more about our tooth replacement treatments in Durban and surrounds, you may contact our practice today to book an appointment with one of our experienced dental specialists.
