Tooth Replacement Options
At Hampton Dental Center, we have several methods of restoring a patients teeth. By consulting with a patient and determining their candidacy for certain treatments, we will help patients make the right choice for their situation.
Bridges
When one tooth or a small number of teeth in a row have been lost, a dental bridge can be used to fill this gap. A bridge is a restoration created in a dental lab and then sent to Hampton Dental Center. It is composed of two crowns and one or more replacement teeth in the middle. We will prepare two teeth on either side of the gap for the placement of these crowns and then securely cement the bridge into place. A bridge is not removable and, cared for properly, can last for many years. A fixed, partial denture is also known as a “ Tooth supported fixed bridge.”
Crowns
If a tooth has been fractured, injured or deeply decayed, a crown can preserve the remaining tooth tissue. In order to make room for a crown to be placed, we must perform a surgical procedure, where we will shave down the size of the tooth being repaired. We then take an impression of your prepared tooth and send this mold to a dental lab so your crown can be created.
The lab will provide us with a crown that is matched to the color and shape of your other teeth. This crown will then be firmly cemented onto your prepared tooth. In most cases, we will provide you with a temporary crown to protect the prepared tooth until the procedure is complete.
Crowns are either made from gold fused to a porcelain exterior or ceramic covered with a layer of porcelain. The fine porcelain on the exterior of the crown gives it a natural translucence that matches your other teeth.
Dentures
Dentures may be partial (also called a “bridge”) or complete, meaning that they replace a single tooth, or an entire set of upper or lower teeth. Today’s dentures are far more comfortable and natural-looking than dentures that were made a generation ago. And now, there are more types of dentures to choose from. Implant supported dentures may be permanently attached to nearby existing teeth ( complete dentures) or dental implants, an arrangement that provides the greatest stability. Or they may be removable Partial dentures which makes them easier to clean. Please consult with us so we can help you choose the right type of denture for your situation.
Implants
Our patients who have received dental implants tell us that this method of replacing teeth provides them greater satisfaction than any other replacement method they have experienced. Implants require a longer period of treatment than other methods, but when they are done, they function and look just like your natural tooth, making implants a better option to replace missing teeth.
The first step in this procedure is the placement of a small titanium post in the location of the missing tooth root. Over the next few months, this titanium post will bond with the bone in that area as healing takes place. The next step is securing a connection called the abutment to the top of the implant. This connection will be used to attach the ceramic replacement tooth to the implant. If the patient’s overall health is good and the bone in that area is strong, implants have a very high success rate and can last for a very long time.
When your implant is complete, you can return to the usual foods you like to eat and your usual procedure for cleaning and flossing your teeth. Implants require no special care. Maintaining a regular dental cleaning and examination schedule is vital to ensure Dental implant success long term.
The Health Risks of Missing Teeth
The bone in both the upper and lower jaw is perfectly adapted to absorb the stresses of biting and chewing. In fact, when one or more front teeth are missing, the bone that supported those teeth no longer receives the pressure and stimulation it was used to. The body will then begin to break down this bone, a process called “resorption.” The more bone matter that is lost from this area, the weaker the bone will become. Eventually, this section of bone can collapse in on itself or it can even fracture.
When many teeth are lost, so much bone can be lost that the lower face may sink in, prematurely aging a person. Weakened bone can also threaten the stability of adjacent teeth which then leads to gum disease and more tooth loss.
The reason we recommend dental implants for most of our patients is that implants are the only method of tooth replacement that keeps tooth decay at bay, your jaw bone stimulated, healthy and intact.
If you are considering a replacement for one or more missing teeth, please consult with us to review your candidacy for implants. We are a dental professional that will help you make your decision on the method of replacement that is best for you, taking into consideration your oral health, convenience, cost and your goals for treatment.