Missing Teeth: An Overview
If suffer from missing teeth in Laurel, MD, we are here to provide restorative dentistry options to renew and revive the look and function of your natural smile. You don’t deserve to go through life living with the inconveniences of missing teeth. Additionally, missing teeth take a variety of negative tolls on the rest of your remaining teeth, gums, and jawbone.
Laurel Smiles Dental Care offers several options for patients missing one tooth, several teeth, or all of their teeth. One of our experienced dentists will perform a thorough evaluation of your smile. From there, we will provide you with a list of our restorative options that would best benefit you. Our goal is to help you revive your smile, and better your overall dental health too.
Why Replace Missing Teeth
There are many reasons you should get professional treatment for your missing teeth. Replacing your missing teeth is vital for your health as well as improving the appearance of your smile. If you suffer from tooth loss, you should treat it as soon as possible for health purposes. Once a tooth is missing, teeth will begin to shift, facial sagging will slowly set in, and you will eventually suffer from bite issues as well as bone loss.
You will also be more susceptible to gum disease, tooth decay, and further tooth loss. Your oral health will continue to slowly decline if you fail to fill the void in your smile. Additionally, replacing lost teeth will help you regain your self-confidence and improve your quality of life.
Treatment Options for Missing Teeth in Laurel, MD
Depending on your tooth replacement needs, our doctors may recommend the following restorative solutions:
- Dental Implants: A dental implant is the fusion of a titanium post into your jawbone which allows for a prosthetic tooth to fully replace the missing tooth. This restores all aspects of the look, feel, and function of your tooth. Dental implant-supported restorations are the most natural option to replace your missing teeth.
- Dental Bridges: Dental bridges use surrounding teeth to support a prosthetic tooth and keep it in place. Your dentist will need to reduce the adjacent teeth in size to accommodate the restoration.
- Dental Crowns: If a tooth has damage, but not completely missing, your dentist may recommend a dental crown to avoid an extraction. A tooth crown is a prosthetic tooth that your dentist will place over your existing tooth to protect it from further damage while also restoring the look of your smile.
- Dentures & Partials: Dentures and partials are a great way to revive a smile that is missing a full arch of teeth. Our office takes dental impressions to ensure that your dentures and partials fit comfortably into your mouth. Thanks to advances in dental technology, dentures are more natural looking. We can also secure a denture with dental implants as a more natural and durable solution.
Missing Teeth FAQs
How do missing teeth affect your health?
Missing teeth can affect your health in many ways. If you fail to replace your teeth, you are at a higher risk for heart disease, kidney disease, gum disease, infections, and diabetes. When a patient fails to replace a missing tooth, the gums remain exposed to bacteria that have direct contact with the bloodstream.
What is the best option for a missing front tooth?
The most common option chosen for missing teeth is dental implants. They match the rest of your teeth and function like a normal tooth.
Which is better: a bridge or a partial?
The choice between a bridge or a partial is largely dependent on the amount of support your other teeth offer. If your teeth are in good health and strong, most patients choose a bridge. If your teeth cannot support a bridge, then a partial is the best option for you. Your dentist can help tell you which option is best for you.
Schedule A Dental Exam Today
As your experienced restorative dentists in Laurel, MD, we look forward to going over your tooth replacement options with you in more detail. We provide affordable tooth replacement options for patients of all ages. Call our office today at 301-490-7007 or schedule an appointment online.