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SmileCreator of Bingham Farms has many great options to help you get back on track to a healthy and functional smile. However, if you are missing teeth, the first step is to see Dr. Kosinski for a consultation to discuss your options. This will allow us to take a look at your problem areas and figure out which tooth replacement options work best for you and your budget.
The next step is to read through this side-by-side comparison of the three most popular treatment options for replacing teeth dentures, bridges, and dental implants. This information is intended to help our patients decide which replacement option might work best. All names have been modified to protect the privacy of our patients.
1) Dentures
Steve is 60-year-old male patient who replaced his missing teeth with removable dentures. Steve chose dentures because he lost half of his upper arch of teeth in a bicycle accident. Steve’s tooth replacement selection consists of an arch of replacement teeth anchored into a base of moldable plastic that matches his gum tissue.
Benefits
Dentures are a great tooth replacement option for patients looking for a reasonably priced option that is easy to get. Many patients can get a custom set made in just a few weeks. This allows for improved functionality without surgery or altering the structure of surrounding teeth.
Drawbacks
Although Steve enjoys his new smile, he admits that his dentures can be uncomfortable sometimes. They also look less natural than other options and do not halt the process of bone deterioration that occurs when teeth are missing over many years. This can ultimately result in a sunken facial appearance and premature wrinkles around the mouth. Steve also admits that he sometimes has difficulty speaking clearly and enjoying some of his favorite foods (like whole apples or corn on the cob).
2) Dental Bridges
Carmen is a 34-year-old female patient who chose a bridge as her tooth restoration option. She was missing two front teeth, so the bridge was permanently attached to her surrounding teeth. Once her procedure was initiated, her adjacent natural teeth were filed down to provide space for the two replacement teeth. To get started, her natural teeth needed to be free from decay and structurally sound.
Benefits
Carmen did a lot of comparison shopping before she made her tooth replacement selection. She chose her treatment because bridges were less expensive than other options, no surgery was required, and her new teeth were installed quicker than other treatments. She also found that her bridge presented less risk since parts could be replaced without significant pain or effort.
Drawbacks
According to Carmen, one of the biggest downsides to her bridge is that it is not reversible. Once natural teeth are ground down for anchors to a dental bridge, they can never be normal again. Moreover, her dentist informed her that this process could increase the risk of decay or root canal treatment for surrounding achor teeth in the future.
3) Dental Implants
Norman is a 57-year-old male patient with several teeth missing after suffering from issues with gum disease when he was younger. After doing research on his options, he discovered that dental implants were the gold standard of care in tooth replacement. His option was based upon a foundation of titanium roots that were permanently connected to his jawbone. Once this part healed, the pieces fused with his jawbone to make for a strong and permanent anchor for his natural-looking replacement teeth.
Benefits
Norman loves his dental implants because they are permanent, they look natural, and they function just like real teeth. Additionally, this wonderful tooth replacement treatment is the only one that can reduce or eliminate jawbone deterioration. This means that Norman’s jaw muscles can stay strong, supple, and functional. He also loves that dental implants need no extra care and can be maintained with daily brushing, flossing, and regular dental exams.
Drawbacks
Although there are few, one of the drawbacks for dental implants is that they are not usually fully covered by dental insurance. The process can also be long out compared to the ease of other options that are done in just weeks. Dental implants require multiple visits over the course of 3-6 months and supplementary procedures like bone grafts and tissue augmentation may be required for some patients. However, on the whole, Norman loves his treatment choice and insists that he only wishes he had gotten dental implants sooner.
Contact Us Today to Discuss Your Tooth Replacement Options
Here at SmileCreator of Bingham Farms, we enjoy helping patients restore their self-esteem with attractive and functional dental implants. Your healthy smile is our first priority! Our staff is ready and proud to serve our Bingham Farms and Beverly Hills, MI community by transforming less-than-perfect grins into stunning smiles. If you would like to know more about dental implants candidacy or your payment options, please read through the rest of our infosite or call us for more information now.
