Missing Teeth
Missing teeth can make your cheeks look hollow and your mouth look sunken. More importantly, your diet can suffer. Those missing multiple teeth in a row may want to consider dentures for both cosmetic purposes and overall wellness. Depending on the amount of teeth missing, we may suggest partial or full dentures. During your consultation, we’ll assess all your options and you can choose what you feel most comfortable with.
Partial
Partial dentures are ideal for those who are missing only a few teeth in a row. They latch onto the remaining gum line and any intact adjacent teeth. Even if you only have one tooth on your dental arch, a partial denture may still work best, since the remaining tooth serves as a natural anchor.
Complete
When your dental arch no longer has any teeth, a complete denture is the optimal solution. You can choose the traditional kind that latches to the gum line or choose to have dentures that are anchored by dental implants. The latter option has the best hold, but involves surgery. Our dentists can discuss all the details so you can make an informed decision.
Implant crowns: Dental implants are generally the best option when replacing missing teeth. They can chew food as strongly as real teeth, and do not directly depend on adjacent teeth to support them. Dental implants are surgically placed in bone to replace missing teeth. Crowns are then fitted on top of the implants. Typically, only the crown portion is visible in the mouth.
- Removable partial dentures (RPD): When a patient is missing some but not all teeth, a removable partial denture can be made. It can be made with flexible base resin completely without any metal, or use a metal base.
- Complete dentures: These are used when a patient is missing all teeth.
- Bridges: If there are adjacent teeth on both sides of the missing tooth, a bridge can be made. For a single missing tooth, the bridge would typically consist of a pontic (to replace the missing tooth) connected to a crown on each side. A bridge may be porcelain, porcelain-fused-to-metal, or full gold.