Finding a stable, reliable solution for missing teeth can greatly improve your quality of life and oral health. Los Angeles dental implants offer the best solution for tooth replacement. The best implant dentists in Los Angeles, CA can offer same day dental implants unlike the length of time other replacement options require.
Understanding how the different replacement options work can help you make an informed decision as to which solution is right for you.
Consequences of Missing Teeth
A full set of teeth carries certain obvious benefits, such as a full smile and an ample chewing surface. The not so obvious benefits have to do with your oral health, both now and in the future.
Teeth act as placeholders for one another, meaning each tooth not only holds its own place but also helps the teeth beside, above and below it stay in place. This means the surrounding teeth will start to shift when a tooth is missing. These effects change the bite of the mouth over time.
The health and strength of the jawbone also relies on the teeth that attach to it. In effect, chewing stresses the jawbone, which helps keep the jawbone strong and dense. With a missing tooth, a loss of bone density occurs on the part of the jaw where the tooth used to be.
Another not so obvious benefit of a full set of teeth has to do with the appearance of the face. Missing teeth cause the skin around your mouth to sag, which can make you look older. Los Angeles dental implants offer a complete solution to replacing one or more missing teeth.
Replacement Options for Missing Teeth
Bridge
A bridge consists of one or more artificial teeth that attach to the teeth on either side of the gap, or missing tooth. Attaching a bridge to your existing teeth offers a fixed solution that stays in the mouth.
A bridge procedure involves grinding down your existing teeth to posts to create anchors for the bridge. From there the bridge is attached or cemented to the posts.
The problem with a bridge is it requires disfiguring perfectly healthy teeth. It can also be very difficult to clean the bridge and the anchor teeth. In turn, if one of the anchor teeth becomes compromised, you end up losing the whole bridge rather than just the one tooth.
Removable Bridge
A removable bridge serves the same function as a fixed bridge in terms of filling the gap between adjacent teeth. Removable bridges are less expensive than fixed bridges, but are also less reliable.
Rather than cement the bridge place, a removable bridge attaches to adjacent teeth using metal clasps. In some cases, crowns may be used to attach the natural teeth to the bridge, which is a bit more stable.
Problems that come with removable bridges have to do with comfort and fit. An uncomfortable fit can make it difficult to eat as the bridge may come loose while eating.
Dentures
Dentures are removable appliances that replace several missing teeth. This option can replace a full set of teeth or fit over a few existing teeth.
Dentures sit on top of gums and rely on saliva as well as the tongue and muscles of the face to stay in place. Both full upper dentures and full lower dentures are available.
As a full and removable option, dentures do have certain disadvantages, including:
- Uncomfortable fit
- May affect how food tastes
- Can damage the jawbone over time
- Cause sore gums
Compared to Los Angeles dental implants, dentures offer a low-cost alternative, though unreliable as a tooth replacement option.
The Best Solution: Dental Implants
Like a fixed bridge, dental implants offer a fixed tooth replacement option. The best implant dentists in Los Angeles, CA can use dental implants to replace one or several missing teeth with each gap receiving its own implant.
Implants consist of an implant post that attaches to the jawbone, an abutment or extension piece and the actual artificial tooth that’s placed on top. With same day dental implants, the initial post procedure is completed in one office visit. Unlike bridges, any surrounding existing teeth remain unaltered. Unlike dentures, dental implants remain fixed in place.
Dental implants offer one other benefit when it comes to the ongoing health of the jaw. Implants fuse with the jaw and perform like normal teeth. These effects help promote and maintain the health of the jawbone.
