Nobody wants to experience tooth loss, but the truth is, millions of Americans are missing one or even all of their teeth, according to the American College of Prosthodontists. While tooth loss can be caused by any number of things such as gum disease, trauma, or decay, your dentist in Sacramento can often replace a missing tooth or even a whole mouth of missing teeth. But there are several treatment options available, and determining the best tooth replacement option for you depends on a variety of factors.
Dentures
Until relatively recently, there were only a handful of treatments available to help patients replace missing teeth. Most commonly, a few missing teeth were replaced with a dental bridge or partial denture, and a full mouth of missing teeth was replaced by dentures. These tooth replacement options are all removable, temporary treatments that do require some maintenance. They must be removed, cleaned, and soaked every night, and dentures require adhesive to stay in place throughout the day, which may not be the ideal solution for you. Additionally, dentures can end up slipping and sliding around in the mouth, making eating and speaking difficult, even if they’re a perfect fit and well-crafted. While all of these options still exist today and may be the right replacement option for you, we now also have the option of dental implants.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are often the treatment of choice for your dentist in Sacramento because, unlike dentures, they’re permanent, function more like natural teeth, and help keep your jaw bone stimulated and strong. Dental implants provide health benefits, such as:
- Improved appearance, speech, and comfort. Dental implants look and feel so much like your natural teeth that nobody will even know you have them. This also means that they tend to feel more comfortable in the mouth, and you don’t have to deal with them slipping around as you try to eat and talk.
- Being able to eat what you want. Many people with dentures find eating certain foods such as corn or things with seeds to be difficult and uncomfortable. However, patients with implants find that there are no restrictions on what they can eat because their implants function and allow them to chew just like natural teeth.
- Better oral health. There’s no soaking involved with dental implants, and you can continue to brush and floss normally. This often means less decay and better oral health overall.
Dental implant treatment does involve a minor surgery, during which a titanium implant post is placed into your jaw bone, which will function like tooth roots. It will take some time for the bone to fuse with the metal, but the result is a super-strong permanent base for your new tooth or teeth. Once healing is complete, an abutment will be added to the post, and your dental team will top it with a custom crown. Your dentist may also be able to place an entire set of brand new teeth on a few implants for a brand new complete smile.
If you think that dental implants or dentures may be right for you, call your dentist in Sacramento to schedule a consultation. Your dental team will perform an exam and take a closer look at your individual situation to find the best tooth replacement option for you.