Tooth loss and other oral concerns like fractures, chips, discoloration, tooth sensitivity, and bleeding can lower self-esteem and confidence, as teeth are crucial in shaping the facial structure and a beautiful smile. Having healthy teeth can improve your confidence and contribute to a positive self-image. So, what happens when you lose one or several teeth?
The smile fades away, and the confidence dips. Thankfully, you can overcome these problems using dental prosthesis devices. The devices are artificial replacements for lost or damaged teeth. If you are interested, speak to your dentist to discuss the various types of dental prostheses to help you choose the best.
Dental Implants
One common dental prosthesis type is the dental implant. They are metal screws or posts surgically screwed into the jawbone to provide anchorage for artificial teeth like crowns and bridges. Dental implants are considered the best replacements for missing teeth because they act as artificial tooth roots and do not anchor or rely on support from other teeth. Implants act as tooth roots and sit under the gums to anchor the visible part of the artificial tooth.
If you are interested in implants, it is essential to understand the expectations during the implantation process.
Dental Implant Procedure
First, you will visit your dentist for an initial consultation. In the meeting, the dentist keenly evaluates the condition of the mouth, particularly the remaining teeth. Depending on the examination results, the dentist can perform 3D imaging or X-rays to understand the density of your bone and if it is sufficient to anchor the implants.
If you have a healthy jawbone and no further tooth extraction is required, the dentist will schedule another meeting where they will fit the implants. In the appointment, the dentist screws in the metal posts in the jawbone through surgery.
After the implantation, the dentist gives you time to heal. During this time, the metal posts grow, and the bone grows and fuses in a process called osseointegration. Healing takes a couple of months, but it is advisable to be patient to allow proper healing, as it creates a firm and durable foundation for the teeth.
Once the implant fuses with the bone and you fully heal, the treatment proceeds to the abutment or connector placement stage. The abutment acts as a link between the implant and the artificial tooth. During the appointment, the dentist also takes an impression of the teeth and sends them to a dental lab to fabricate crowns that will be attached to the implants.
The dentist cuts open the gums to place the connector, so you will need time to heal. By the time you are healed, the crown or bridge will be ready for cementing on the connector, and the procedure will be complete.
Dental Implants Advantages
Implants are a necessity, and dentists recommend them because of their multiple benefits. These include:
- Implants preserve the adjacent teeth and are permanent replacements for missing teeth.
- They are reliable with the implant procedure being tested and proved in the three decades they have existed in the dental industry.
- They improve your appearance by restoring your beautiful smile and natural tooth function and form.
- They are highly durable, hence the best substitutes for natural teeth. They are biocompatible, meaning the body accepts them and you will not need to replace them because of rejection by the body.
- They preserve your natural bone and facial structure.
Dental Implants Complications
Implants offer many benefits, but they have their downsides. One is that the metal posts can loosen if you do not allow proper healing. Besides, the cement holding the crown and the connector in place can fail. The soft tissue and bone around the implantation site could also develop complications from drilling and grinding.
The pros of dental implants are more than the cons, meaning that the decision on whether to go for the treatment depends on the costs and the density of your jawbone.
An implant costs approximately $1,600 to $3,000 without including the cost of the connector and cap, which could range from $1,500 to $3,000. The price varies from one clinic to another depending on location and the number of teeth you want to replace.
Dental Crowns
A dental crown or cap is a tooth-like fixed restoration or prosthetic device that covers a damaged, fractured, decayed, or chipped tooth. Also, they are used during dental implant procedures to act as artificial teeth. Because they are used for chewing, crowns are made of metal or porcelain for strength.
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Dental Crown Procedure
The dentist begins by numbing the affected tooth and surrounding soft tissue. Next, the dentist removes the damaged or rotten sections of the tooth. If you have cavities, the dentist will perform a dental filling procedure. They will then trim the tooth to create space for crown placement.
The next phase is creating an impression of the teeth using a soft mold. The impression is then sent to the lab for fabrication. The process takes time, so you will wear interim restorations until the permanent ones are ready.
When the permanent prosthesis is ready, you will return to the dental spa for cementing. The dentist removes the interim crowns and attaches the permanent one to the affected tooth using a special cement or adhesive.
If your dental clinic uses advanced technology, they could fabricate permanent crowns the same day, meaning the treatment could be completed on a single visit.
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Benefits of Crowns
You should consider dental crowns for your prosthesis device because of these reasons:
- They restore the natural or original shape, size, and color.
- Crowns are suitable for supporting damaged teeth where none are left to anchor a dental bridge.
- Crowns restore and maintain the structural integrity and function of the teeth.
- They enhance your smile and confidence by covering most dental concerns like cavities, decay, chipping, fractures, and tooth discoloration.
- They fix tooth discoloration, which is common in children.
- With proper maintenance, crowns can last for five to fifteen years.
However, they are susceptible to chipping depending on the choice of material and chewing habits.
Dental Bridge
A bridge is a fixed restoration that replaces one or two missing teeth by anchoring on the adjacent healthy natural teeth to bridge the gap left by the missing teeth. The teeth providing support are called the connector or anchor teeth. If the adjacent teeth are too weak to give proper anchorage to the bridge, the dentist could recommend dental implants to provide the support.
When choosing bridges for the gaps in your mouth, you have multiple choices to pick from, including:
- Conventional dental bridges.
- Maryland bridges.
- Cantilever bridges.
- Implant-anchored bridges.
- Hybrid bridges.
- Fixed-movable.
Your dentist should explain these types and help you select the best for your oral needs. Once you have picked a preferred bridge, the next step is installation.
Bridge Installation Process
The installation process depends on whether you want fixed bridges or implant-anchored ones. If you opt for a fixed prosthesis, the installation starts with prepping the anchor teeth by trimming the enamel where the attachment will happen.
Once the anchor teeth are ready, the dentist takes an impression of your teeth, which is used in fabricating the bridge. Unless your dentist fabricates prosthesis devices in-house, you will require an interim bridge as you wait for the permanent one.
In your return visit, the dentist removes the interim prosthesis and places the permanent one. Before permanently cementing it, the dentist ensures it sits perfectly on the teeth and gums. After providing a perfect fit, the dentist then dements the bridge.
Dental Bridges Benefits
Missing teeth can cause many challenges, including facial disfigurement and a flawed smile. Installing dental bridges brings many benefits, including:
- A natural smile and look of restoration.
- They restore your capability to chew and talk properly.
- They are affordable and effective, explaining why they are common.
- In the event of bridge failure, you can replace them quickly, as the procedure is easy to perform.
- Bridges ensure even distribution of your bite.
- They prevent the surviving natural teeth from drifting toward the gap.
Dental Bridges Disadvantages
One major downside of bridges is that they do not preserve healthy natural teeth. Instead, dentists remove significant parts of the enamel from natural teeth to enable the adjustment of bridges. Once you remove the bridge, the teeth could be weak and susceptible to fracturing and breakage. Under certain circumstances, you could be forced to reinforce the teeth with dental crowns to lower the risk of fracturing or chipping.
Altering the structure of abutment teeth also increases the risk of oral concerns like decay. If a decayed tooth develops an infection after installing dental bridges, you are more likely to require a root canal procedure in the future.
Bridges last five to seven years with proper care before requiring replacement.
Finally, because of the elevated risk of decay, you require a special dental hygiene routine to keep the teeth healthy, unlike with implants, where you can maintain your oral hygiene routine after treatment.
Cost of Dental Bridges
The least you can pay for a bridge is $500 per pontic. However, the cost can range from $1,100 to $4,500 depending on location, material cost, dentist’s experience, additional treatment required, and the number of teeth.
Dentures
Dentures are prosthetic devices that replace extracted or missing teeth anchored by adjacent oral cavity tissues. You can use these devices to replace a few or all missing teeth. Whether you go for partial or complete dentures, your dentist should tailor them to fit well in the mouth and mimic the look of the existing natural teeth.
Today, dentures are fabricated from hard resin material, which is fragile and prone to cracking and chipping. Because of the material’s nature, dentures are less durable and require replacement every five years.
When you visit your dentist for the first time, they will examine your oral cavity to help you choose the best denture type. The available options include complete dentures, partial dentures, and implant-anchored dentures. The next step is to create an impression of your jaw and determine the connection between your jaw and the bite. Besides, the dentist will help you select a shade that mimics the natural look of your teeth. The bite measures, jaw impression, and shade will be sent to the lab for denture modeling.
The lab will model the dentures based on the details provided. You will have the chance to fit them for necessary adjustments before the final prosthetic.
Regardless of your denture type, you must clean them daily with water and a small amount of soap to remove any food particles trapped underneath the gum line.
Dental Veneers
Veneers are thin translucent porcelain layers or shells covering the visible side of the anterior teeth, recreating and improving the natural teeth' color. The shells also strengthen the tooth and improve appearance. These devices have several uses, and it is up to your dentist to determine if they suit your situation.
During installation, the dentist adapts the tooth by removing enamel, enabling veneers to fit well. Modeling veneers takes a few weeks, so your dentist could place interim veneers for you to wear before the permanent ones are ready.
When the permanent ones are ready, you will return to the clinic for the permanent ones. Before cementing the devices permanently, you should check the fit and color to ensure they resemble that of natural teeth. If you are satisfied with the appearance, they are cemented before the procedure ends.
Veneers are durable and can last ten to fifteen years with proper care. Also, you need healthy teeth to support them.
However, if you regularly take staining substances like coffee and red wine, you risk turning the color of the veneers, hence losing the natural look of the teeth you were working hard to achieve. This does not mean you should not take these products. Instead, brush your teeth thirty minutes after you take them and limit intake.
Find a Competent Dental Professional Near Me
Dental prosthesis devices offer many benefits, like enhancing appearance and self-esteem, improving chewing, preserving your natural facial structure, and improving the health of your gums. Therefore, whenever you have missing teeth or other symptoms that could be addressed using dental prosthetic devices, like tooth pain, a cracked or chipped tooth, bleeding gums, or tooth discoloration, you should speak to a dentist for a prosthetic solution.
At the Lasting Impressions Dental Spa, we understand the life-changing benefits of prosthesis devices. Call us today at 818-751-5100 to understand the types of oral prosthesis and find the right prosthetic solution to your dental concern, depending on your oral needs, preferences, and budget in Encino, CA.
