Modern dentists offer a number of ways to prevent worsening conditions, after tooth loss, including dentures, which have long been popular, and dental bridges. But the most comprehensive way to address tooth loss is through dental implants. Implants are the only prostheses that replaces both a missing tooth and its root, helping to stabilize the jaw even over time. In fact, the titanium post placed as part of a dental implant, should last for life. Of course, implants are not ideal for everyone. So it’s important to consult with your dentist before settling on any prosthetic options, for completing your smile after tooth loss or an extraction.
Exploring Your Prosthetic Options
Dental bridges are another great way to restore a smile after tooth loss, and one that is often less expensive and quicker to complete than implants. However, bridges replace the missing tooth without addressing the lost tooth root, so this may not be the best long-term solution, particularly for patients struggling with several lost teeth at once.
Dentures, partial or full, are another popular option because of their affordability and how easy they are to complete. Unlike implants, for instance, there is very little recovery or adjustment time required after having the dentures placed. But again, it’s important to remember that only implants will supply continued nutrients to the jawline, which makes them the most permanent way to address tooth loss, and also the most stable from a functional standpoint. After several years, for instance, denture wearers may need to have a new set completed, in order to fit after changes in the jaw’s structure.
That said, each of the prosthetic options will be designed to fit comfortably and look natural. So determining which is best for you is primarily a matter of weighing the long-term benefits of options like implants, versus the initial cost benefits of dentures, or dental bridges. The dentist will also need to examine your mouth, to determine if your soft tissues are healthy enough to support an implant, before one could be placed for you.