Posted

Replacing your missing teeth is about comfort and functionality. Of course you want your replacement teeth to look like the real thing, but if they don’t work, then you’ll still be dealing with the complications of tooth loss. There are effective dental prosthetics that can address a variety of tooth loss situations. Choosing the right dental prosthetic is a matter of evaluating your own needs in the wake of tooth loss. Your dentist can help you determine the proper course of action when deciding between options like dental bridges and dentures.

Dental Bridges Replace a Sequence of Missing Teeth

To understand what kind of dental prosthetic will work best for you, you need to understand what each prosthetic does. Dental bridges are a sequence of replacement teeth (called “pontics”) bookended by dental crowns. A bridge can consist of a single prosthetic tooth, or a number of prosthetic teeth in a row. The bookending dental crowns fit over the natural teeth on either end of your missing teeth. This holds your prosthetic in place — the strength and stability of your natural teeth providing stability for the bridge.

Dentures Can Replace an Entire Dental Ridge

For some patients, the effects of tooth loss are more severe. If you have lost many or all of the teeth on one of your dental ridges (top or bottom of your mouth), then you may consider dentures. Dentures include not only replacement teeth, but a strong, gum-colored base as well. Dentures can be held in place with adhesive, or with the aid of dental implants. Implants can give dentures added stability and bite power, which are sometimes a concern with this prosthetic. If you aren’t quite missing all of your teeth, partial dentures can fit around natural teeth to preserve your smile.

Replacing Missing Teeth Has Health and Cosmetic Benefits

Replacing your missing teeth after suffering tooth loss is not just a matter of cosmetics. Finding a strong dental prosthetic allows you to chew and eat food with confidence, but it does more than that too. When you are missing teeth from your jaw, your remaining teeth can start to shift and become misaligned. This can create problems for the healthy teeth that you do have. Plus, you may be more susceptible to infection in areas where you are missing teeth. Choosing a dental prosthetic will allow you to recover from tooth loss.

Choose a Dental Prosthetic at Cedar Dental

Finding the right dental prosthetic can create a huge improvement to your quality of life. At Cedar Dental, we provide individualized attention to ensure that we make a choice that is right for you. To learn about your dental prosthetic options, contact Cedar Dental in Cedar Rapids, IA at 319-364-7108.