How Can My Local Dentist in Winter Park Replace a Missing Tooth?
When it comes to a missing tooth (whether congenitally missing (hypodontia) or a tooth that had to be extracted due to decay and deterioration – there are several dental procedures, your local dental office in Winter Park can perform to replace a missing tooth.
One important thing to note, the discussion within the scope of this topic is for a single tooth. These options can exist for multiple teeth as well. However, more extensive restorations may require a different approach (for example, “All on 4” implant dentures). Your local dentist can consult you on the best procedures for replacing single or multiple teeth.
Essentially, within modern dentistry, there are 3 options to consider:
Partial Denture: a removable prosthetic appliance that is custom-made to replace single or multiple missing teeth with artificial teeth. The denture is worn during the day/night but removed for sleep and should be cleaned daily.
Dental Bridge: essentially, two dental crowns are fabricated with a false tooth between them to fill the missing tooth's space. The crowns on each end of the Bridge secure the Bridge in place.
Dental Implant: a medical-grade titanium post is placed surgically to replace the roots of a tooth, and a dental crown is placed on top of the post to provide a strong, durable, and more comfortable replacement
What is a Partial Denture?
A partial denture can be a fast and cost-effective way to replace one or multiple missing teeth when looking to replace a missing tooth. However, it does require that sufficiently healthy teeth remain to serve as 'anchors' for the partial denture. Patients must also keep them clean with daily brushing and removal in the evenings.
There are various types of partial dentures, but essentially there are repairable partial dentures (typically metal materials) and non-repairable (typically acrylic material) partial dentures. The benefit of a repairable denture is if more teeth must be replaced in the future, it can be done with only a small cost of modifying the device. However, acrylic non-repairable dentures are typically more natural looking and feel with softer edges. Additionally, there are a range of hybrid options which offer a mix of comfort, durability, and natural looks. Ultimately, your local dentist should be consulted to help you make the right decision for your specific situation.
Important Consideration for Partial Denture
One important consideration in having a partial denture made is all remaining teeth should be healthy and restored. For example, cavities should have fillings, and any broken or unrestorable teeth should be extracted so the partial denture will not cause adverse effects. Additionally, if you recently have or plan to have dental extractions, it is important to wait approximately 6 weeks for your mouth to fully recover and stabilize. This wait time ensures the partial denture made for you has the best chance of a perfect fitment. An improperly fitting partial denture can be painful and not provide the level of comfort for you to wear daily. Often, multiple adjustments are needed – and expected. At Ivory Dental, we plan for follow-up appointments for all our partial dentures so that our doctor and staff can make minor adjustments for your comfort.
What is a Dental Bridge?
A properly fabricated dental bridge is a permanent, strong dental prosthetic that can replace one or more missing teeth that are adjacent to each other. You can visualize a dental bridge just like a road 'bridge' that spans two solid foundations. In this way, a dental bridge should have two teeth to build on.
A bridge can fill a single missing tooth, two adjacent missing teeth, or even 3 adjacent missing teeth. This determines how 'long' the dental Bridge is and is often referred to as the 'number of units’. So, for example, spanning one missing tooth is a '3 unit bridge', and spanning 3 missing teeth would be a '5 unit bridge'.
As a side note, like in architecture, there are other types of bridges – namely, a "cantilever" or a "Maryland" bridge. However, we typically do not recommend these; they are only used for special cases. If you have a unique situation, please call our office or ask your local dentist for an opinion on the best for you.
Benefits of Dental Bridge
The benefit of a dental bridge is that it is permanently bonded and will be strong, providing a mostly natural look and feel. However, oral hygiene is of utmost importance to maintaining a dental bridge. As the teeth are bonded together, there is no way to floss with traditional "up and down" flossing between those teeth; patients do have to floss underneath the Bridge using a "floss threader" or other devices like a water flosser. In addition, keeping the teeth and gums under/around a bridge can not be stressed enough; if tooth decay were to deteriorate the healthy teeth, it could cause the Bridge to become loose and need to be replaced.
When considering if a dental bridge is right for you, one thing to note is that a bridge requires the two 'anchor' teeth to have some enamel and tooth structure removed to cement the crowns. Therefore, if those teeth are otherwise healthy (with no existing crowns or fillings) – the dentist will have to remove a portion of healthy teeth to place the Bridge. This can be undesirable for some patients, and your local dentist can advise you of the considerations so you may make the best decision for your situation.
What is a Dental Implant?
A dental implant has two components that replace a natural tooth: the root replacement and the visible tooth "crown." The implant components are made of medical grade and biocompatible materials for a long-lasting and strong replacement of a missing tooth. A complete dental implant restoration represents a marvel of modern dental technology, and compared to other options, it is typically the most expensive and longest process. However, dental implants are typically the most comfortable and best-looking restoration.
A full description of the implant process warrants its own article, but in short, the process is as follows:
Extraction of the tooth – if the problem tooth has not yet been extracted, it is typically best removed by the oral surgeon placing the implant post into the bone. This is so the surgeon can plan and evaluate any necessary procedures or considerations to help speed up or strengthen the implant placement process. For example, at this point in time, a form of bone graft may be provided to strengthen the site of the implant placement.
Placement of the Implant – after selecting an appropriate type of implant post, the oral surgeon makes a small incision and drills a specifically designed small hole into the jawbone. The Implant is then placed into the bone and allowed to heal/grow strong around the implant placement.
Osseointegration – typically a several-month healing time for the surrounding bone to grow and integrate around the Implant. During this time, the oral surgeon will monitor the recovery to confirm that the Implant is securely placed and ready for final crown restoration.
Crown restoration – once the oral surgeon has confirmed a successful and healthy implant placement, your local/cosmetic dentist can begin manufacturing the visible portion of the tooth – the 'dental crown.' This consists of two components: 1) the implant abutment, which connects to the implant post in the bone, and 2) the implant crown, which is the replacement tooth custom-made to match your teeth in shape and color
With modern dentistry, your local dentist has several options to help replace a missing tooth. Each has its own unique considerations and benefits – and scheduling an appointment for a consultation is the best way to make an informed decision about which is right for you. View dental services in Winter Park.
Comparison of dental procedures your local dentist can perform to replace a missing tooth:
Partial dentures are the cheaper and faster option, but they are removable and less comfortable
Dental bridges are permanent, strong, and relatively quick to make, but they can be more expensive and harder to keep clean.
Dental implants are the most comfortable, aesthetic, and strong but require a longer recovery time and are the most expensive.
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