Have you recently lost teeth? Are your missing teeth creating more dental health issues? Dental bridges, implants, and dentures are the primary options for replacing missing teeth. Each type of treatment has its advantages. Your dentist in Chapel Hill, NC, Dr. James Furgurson, can help you choose the proper treatment for missing teeth.
Replacing missing teeth is essential to improving the appearance and health of your teeth and gums. Treating serious dental concerns like missing teeth can prevent further tooth loss, tooth and gum infections, and more.
Why Replace Missing Teeth?
Teeth are a vital part of a healthy life. When teeth go missing, even just a single tooth, many complications can develop that will affect your overall well-being, especially your health. A gap in your smile can lead to bone loss in the jaw due to the lack of stimulation. A loss of bone in the jaw can make the face sink in, and you will appear much older than you are.
Remaining teeth can also shift to fill the gap left by missing teeth. This will lead to bite issues, making it hard to chew and speak properly. People with missing teeth are more susceptible to gum disease, tooth decay, and tooth loss. Fewer teeth also make it challenging to chew healthy foods and can cause lower self-esteem and embarrassment.
Solutions to Replace Missing Teeth in Chapel Hill, NC
Our office in Durham provides missing teeth treatments that restore the appearance and function of one or more teeth:
Dental Implants
Tooth implants are a more permanent solution for missing teeth. The dental implant replaces the tooth’s root, becoming fully integrated with the bone. Dental implants are generally the most expensive replacement option but require the least maintenance.
Not all patients qualify for dental implants. Our dentist will evaluate the teeth, gums, and jaw before treatment. They will look at the patient’s overall health, bone structure, and location of the missing tooth or teeth.
Dr. Furgurson is a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. When he treats his patients, he demonstrates his commitment to providing the highest level of care. In many cases, Dr. Furgurson can complete the entire procedure in his Chapel Hill dentist’s office. For other cases, he may work with a local specialist to complete the surgical phase of treatment. Then, he will carry out the implant restoration in his office.
Dental Bridge
A dental bridge is an affordable treatment option for replacing multiple missing teeth. Bridges replace consecutive lost teeth.
The bridge can be either removable (flipper teeth) or fixed. A fixed bridge is anchored with dental crowns or dental implants. The crowns fuse to the replacement teeth (the pontics), creating a reliable tooth replacement option.
Bridges can also use the support of dental implants. Compared to traditional bridges, you do not need to prepare natural teeth if you receive an implant bridge.
Dentures
We recommend dentures when a person misses all their upper or lower teeth. The denture can either be removable or secured using dental implants. An implant denture is more expensive than a removable denture. However, it offers patients a higher quality of life and comfort. Implants keep dentures in place and prevent problems like slipping dentures or problems eating and speaking.
Why Choose Dental Implants?
Dental implants are known as the golden standard for tooth replacement. Compared to other dental restorations, implant restorations:
- Last many more years
- Require no rebasing
- Do not slip around the mouth
- Improve the bite function
- Do not require tooth preparation
While receiving implants may take longer, the results are worth it for many patients. Investing in dental implants ensures that you have a stable restoration. With implants, you don’t have to worry about dentures slipping when eating or frequent dental maintenance visits.