Ways to Replace Missing Teeth

Why It's Important to Replace A Missing Tooth and What Your Options Are

If you lose a front tooth, aesthetic reasons may dominate your decision to replace it. However, It is important to replace missing teeth in any area of your mouth, visible or not, to prevent many problems from occurring down the road. If not replaced, the missing tooth area will begin to experience bone loss, the surrounding teeth will begin to shift, and you put yourself at a greater risk for gum disease. If you wait too long to replace a missing tooth bone loss in the area could make it impossible to ever successfully fix the gap. For patients who require an extraction bone grafting is often recommended directly following the procedure to preserve the area for future restorations. 
You have many options for replacing missing teeth:

Dental Implants

Dental implants are natural-looking replacements for missing teeth that provide the same function as your natural tooth root. The implant is a small, sturdy, titanium post that is placed into the missing tooth area. Implants are ideal for replacing one or many teeth. This is the most technologically advanced and permanent way to replace missing teeth. 

Bridge

A bridge can be permanent or removable. It is used to literally bridge the gap between teeth. A bridge is made up of two crowns to attach to teeth on either side of the gap with a false tooth, or set of teeth, in between. It prevents other teeth from moving  due to the missing tooth and restores your smile. Bridges are ideal to replace one or many missing teeth.

Partial Denture

Denture

A full denture is a full set of false teeth that are removable and are made to replace an entire arch of teeth. A partial denture is a removable set of teeth that can be used to replace many teeth on the same arch. It is recommended for patients who do not meet the qualifications for a bridge due to the location of missing teeth or can not afford a bridge. 

Before and After Snap-on-Smile case completed in my office. 

Snap-On-Smile
The Snap-on-Smile is a fairly new product. It is a removable arch of teeth that fit comfortably onto your actual teeth. It's totally non-invasive, non-painful, and completely reversible since you just snap the Snap-on-Smile in every day and take it out at night. This isn't a permanent option to fixing missing teeth, but it can hide your teeth under a perfect set. 

A Family Dental Care Center: Dr. Seth Rosen

2030 West Main St. 

Norristown, PA 19403

www.drsethrosen.com 

Tooth Extraction FAQs

Need a Tooth Removed? Here's What You Need to Know

Why Do I Need an Extraction? 

A tooth may need to be removed due to severe decay, infection, an abscess, or severe damage. Removing a tooth is necessary when damage to a tooth is so severe that no other treatment will cure the problem. 

Will I Feel Any Pain? 

Before the extraction the dentist will give you a local anesthetic to numb the area where the tooth will be removed so you do not feel any pain at all. Any mild discomfort that you may feel after the tooth is removed can be easily controlled with pain medication. 

Will I Be Prescribed Antibiotics?

Yes, prescribing antibiotics is fairly routine to prevent any infection from the surgery.

Will I Need Stitches?

Usually no. However, some cases may require stitches. If so, your dentist will tell you if/when you need to have the stitches removed. 

Healing After the Extraction:

The healing process should only last a few days. To ensure a quick and easy recovery be sure to take any medications as prescribed and follow the directions on the post-surgical sheet provided.

Can I Replace the Tooth?

Yes. You have a few options if you would like to replace the missing tooth. Dental implants are permanant replacements for one or many teeth. A bridge can be used to replace one or many teeth and is permanant or removable. If you are missing several or all teeth in the same area then a partial or full denture may be used. It is important to replace missing teeth to prevent any kind of bone loss in the area. Bone grafting can also prevent deterioration of the jaw bone. 

Bone Grafting

Bone grafting is necessary in areas where there is a deficiency of bone. This is often recommended if you are having a dental implant placed in the site of the extraction. It is wise to graft the bone in every extraction site because it preserves the area for future restorations.  

A Family Dental Care Center: Dr. Seth Rosen DMD

2030 West Main St., Norristown, PA 19403

www.drsethrosen.com 

Dental Implant FAQs

Why You Shouldn't Fear Dental Implants

What are dental implants? Dental implants are natural-looking replacements for missing teeth that provide the same function as your natural tooth root. The implant is a small, sturdy, titanium post that is placed into your upper or lower jaw bone. The jaw bone is then allowed to grow around the implant. Once the jaw bone has grown the implant holds a crown, bridge, or denture, imitating how a root holds a natural tooth in place. 

Does it hurt? Nope! Dental implants require no cutting or stitching and have little to no post-operative discomfort. You are numbed up during the procedure and feel no pain at all. Afterward most patients do not experience any swelling and do not require any pain medication besides OTC ibuprofen. 

Why bother replacing missing teeth? A tooth should be replaced as soon as it is lost. This prevents bone loss, reduces movement of surrounding teeth and avoids excess decay. Teeth are necessary for the health of the gum and jaw tissues and a prolonged absence of a tooth will severely limit the possibilities for restorations and cause various health problems including jawbone deterioration. 

Can dental implants be used to replace mulitple teeth? Dental implants may be used to replace individual teeth, multiple teeth, or all your teeth in one or both arches.

Will my insurance cover the cost of an implant? Dental implant treatment may qualify for some insurance coverage, but is generally limited to the coverage provided for a bridge or partial denture. It is important that you check with your insurance carrier to find out what they provide.

Do dental implants require extra care? Implanted teeth need to be brushed and cared for just like your natural teeth, including periodic cleanings with your dentist.

Are there age limitations on dental implants? No, age is not a factor for dental implant success. Patients of all ages are welcome to come in for a consultation. 

What are the benefits of dental implants? Since implants are fixed in place, they look and feel like natural teeth. Implants prevent bone-loss in the area of the missing teeth, preventing that sunken-in look of old age. Unlike bridges, implants avoid damage to surrounding healthy teeth. 

How long do dental implants last? A lifetime! As long as you care for your teeth your implant will never need to be replaced! 

Are implants right for me? Almost everyone who has lost one tooth, many teeth, or even their entire set of teeth is a canidate for dental implants. Dental implants are the most advanced way to replace missing teeth and surpass the technologies of dental crowns, bridges, and partial and full dentures. Dental implants are very natural in appearance and are the best alternative to your original teeth!

A Family Dental Care Center

Dr. Seth Rosen DMD

2030 W Main St, Norristown, PA 19403

www.drsethrosen.com