Taking care of your permanent teeth should be every patient’s top priority. Once you lose a permanent tooth, the only way to restore it is through restorative dentistry.
When a tooth is lost, the bone beneath the tooth begins to atrophy. Similar to muscles, when the bones in the jaw are not stimulated, they will begin to deteriorate. The bones in the jaw are stimulated as you bite, chew, and speak.
Even losing one tooth can result in bone loss in the jaw. As the number of teeth lost increases, you run the risk of experienced facial sagging and functional issues in the jaw.
As mentioned, missing teeth can affect the way to chew and eat. Missing teeth can make it harder for patients to enjoy foods like meat, nuts, vegetables, and grains. As a result, many patients with missing teeth suffer from poor nutrition due to food limitations.
Many patients lose one or more teeth and don’t think much it, but in reality, losing even one tooth can have a serious impact on your dental and overall health. For this reason, many dentists recommend replacing missing teeth as soon as possible.
What Are My Options To Replace Missing Teeth?
There is a wide range of options to replace missing teeth. In order to find the best tooth replacement option for your needs, it is important to work with a highly skilled and trusted restorative dentist. An experienced dentist can evaluate your teeth, gums, and mouth and determine the best tooth replacement option for your smile. In many cases, your dentist will explore multiple treatment options with you, and together, you can choose which solution suits your best interest, budget, and lifestyle.
Common Tooth Replacement Options:
- Dental Implants: Dental implants offer a complete solution to tooth loss; they are designed to replace the tooth root as well as the crown of the tooth. Implants are embedded into the jaw bone, which helps prevent further bone loss in the future. Once the implant is placed, it is topped with an abutment and custom designed porcelain or ceramic tooth. Some of the top benefits of dental implants is that the look and function like your natural teeth and don’t need to be replaced.
- Dentures: Dentures replace a full mouth or arch of teeth. A traditional denture is comprised of a plate that holds together false teeth and gums and held into place by your natural gum tissue. While dentures may restore the appearance of your smile, they do not combat the effects of tooth loss, meaning that it will not address bone loss and chewing function. For this reason, many patients opt for implant secured dentures.
- Bridges: Bridges are traditionally held into place by the neighboring teeth; they consist of a false tooth and dental crowns on the opposite sides. Dental bridges can help prevent further bone loss as well as prevent the remaining teeth from shifting. Although traditional dental bridges offer a great solution or tooth loss, an implant-supported dental bridge may also be beneficial in the long run.
Replace Missing Teeth in Woodbridge, VA
If you would like to learn more about your tooth replacement options, visit Dr. Joseph P. Cavallo, DDS. As a highly skilled implant dentist in Woodbridge, VA, Dr. Cavallo has in-depth knowledge of the teeth, bite and jaw, as well as the appropriate treatment options to improve the overall health, function, and appearance of your smile.
To explore your tooth replacement options, call (703) 493-1203 or request an appointment online.
