Addressing tooth loss is a matter of choosing the right dental prosthetic for the job. The prosthetic you choose will come down to the nature of your tooth loss, as well as your budget. If you’ve lost many or all of the teeth on one of your dental ridges (top or bottom), dentures might be the best option for you. Dentures include lifelike bases and replacement teeth that are usually held in place by adhesive. While this system works, it doesn’t always offer the best bite power. By combining implants with dentures, you create a more stable prosthetic.
Dental Implants Can Be Used as Anchors for Your Dentures
The key to any dental prosthetic is holding it in place. Dental bridges are held in place using dental crowns that fit over your healthy teeth. Dental implants are surgically placed in your jawbone, which makes them strong and stable. By using several dental implants as anchor points for your dentures, your dentist can hold your dentures in place with a strength and stability that adhesive doesn’t offer. You won’t run the risk of experiencing any slipping or shifting while you chew food, which enhances your quality of life after receiving the prosthetic.
A Tooth’s Root Structure Is What Gives it Power
The portions of your teeth that you can see when you look in the mirror are the crowns of the teeth. The crowns are important, because they’re the surfaces that allow you to chew food, and they look great when you smile. The real structure and power of the teeth however, comes from the roots. The roots run all the way into your jawbone and are connected via tissue that keeps them stable and allows them to bite through food comfortably. The roots of your teeth also create pressure that strengthens your jawbone and keeps it vital. Replacing that structure after tooth loss is important.
When Are Dentures the Preferred Prosthetic?
Dental prosthetics are often about situational fit. If you are missing a single tooth, a dental implant is typically the best way to replace that tooth’s structure and function. If you’re missing a sequence of three teeth and your budget doesn’t allow for implants, or your jawbone isn’t healthy enough to support implants, a dental bridge might work better. In cases where you’re missing many or all of the teeth on a dental ridge, dentures are typically the best option, because your jaw likely can’t support that many implants, and the cost of treatment would be very high for individual implants.
Learn More About Implant-Supported Dentures at Potach and Mitchell
If you have been a victim of tooth loss, then it’s time to repair your damaged smile. Substantial tooth loss cases can be remedied with implant supported dentures. At Potach and Mitchell Dental Clinic, we will determine the right prosthetic for your situation and get you smiling again.
ABOUT YOUR AUSTIN, MN, DENTIST:
Our team offers our patients and their family access to comprehensive dental care, including general, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry. To schedule an appointment with the Potach and Mitchell Dental Clinic, contact our Austin, MN dental office today by calling 507-437-6312. Our office welcomes patients from Austin, MN and surrounding communities.
