Multiple Teeth Replacement with Dental
Implants
Dental implants are the treatment of choice for patients missing multiple teeth, whether the teeth are missing because of an accident, periodontal disease, or decay.
As we age, missing teeth become a bigger problem
When we get older, our teeth can become worn down, develop cracks, deteriorate, or decay. We can have an accident, or develop periodontal disease. All of these situations can lead to tooth loss. Patients with good dental hygiene can still lose teeth as they grow older. Many medications adults take for a variety of reasons can result in a dry mouth, which leads to a higher risk of developing cavities. Multiple missing teeth can impact your self-confidence, ability to chew, and can have a negative impact on your overall health. It is therefore important to replace these missing teeth.
Dental implants are the treatment of choice to replace multiple missing teeth
As is the case with a single missing tooth, multiple missing teeth can be successfully replaced by dental implants. Implant-supported replacement teeth are fixed in your mouth, so they can't move or slide while you're eating, talking, smiling, or playing sports, as is sometimes the case with removable dentures. Dental implants maintain the integrity of bone in the sites where teeth are missing, and they most closely resemble natural teeth in function and esthetics.
Bridges
Traditionally, tooth-supported bridges have been used to replace multiple missing teeth. Bridges have many disadvantages, including the following:
- They need to be supported by healthy teeth on either side of the missing tooth or teeth. These healthy adjacent teeth are ground down and crowned, which weakens the healthy teeth, and may create more dental problems in the long run.
- They do not prevent bone loss in the area of the missing tooth or teeth.
- They can only be used to treat spans of missing teeth of a certain length, beyond which they cannot be used.
- They do not last as long as implants, and may need replacing as soon as 7 to 12 years after initial placement.
- Dental implants do not require support from healthy teeth on either side of the missing tooth, and are anchored into the bone which can prevent future bone loss. If they are properly cared for, they can last a lifetime.
Removable Partial Dentures
Partial dentures have been used to restore areas with multiple missing teeth in the past. They are removable appliances made of acrylic and metal that clip onto healthy remaining teeth. They have many disadvantages, including the following:
- They may move or slip when you are eating, smiling, or talking. Metal may show when you smile, talk or laugh.
- They may not allow you to eat everything you could eat before, since they can decrease your chewing ability.
- They may be uncomfortable.
- They do not prevent bone loss in the area of the missing tooth or teeth.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are a great treatment to replace multiple missing teeth. Since they are anchored into your bone, you do not need to worry about them moving. They most closely resemble your natural teeth compared to bridges or dentures. Dental implants allow you to smile, laugh, talk, and eat with confidence.
One day is all it takes
Traditionally, the process of replacing one missing tooth with a dental implant would require many appointments and take over a year, from start to finish. At the Cholakis Dental Implant Center, we use a technique called Immediate Function that allows us to give most patients their implant and replacement tooth in one day. This eliminated the need for multiple appointments and a temporary tooth. We use 3D CAT scan technology to treatment plan your specific case, we have many different specialists and generalists under one roof, and our on-site laboratory enables us to provide a replacement tooth at the same appointment as implant placement.