Posted: June 5, 2018
Missing teeth can cause many problems in both the long and short term. While there are different solutions available for missing teeth, in general dental implants are considered the best choice. This is because dental implants are the only option available that replace the vital tooth root.
When we think about teeth, we often only think about the top part, called the "crown" of the tooth, that's visible when we smile or open our mouth. However, the tooth extends much further down into the gums and jawbone. The tooth root plays a vital role in keeping the jaw healthy and strong, and when it goes missing, the jawbone may resorb and eventually collapse.
If you are missing teeth and want to find the best solution for your oral health and attractive smile, call Dr. John Schmid today at 512-329-5967. He offers free, no-obligation dental implant consultations to determine your candidacy and go over your options.
When to Choose Dental Implants
If you are missing teeth, your options are:
- A dental bridge
- Full or partial dentures
- A dental implant
- Implant-supported dentures or bridge
- Nothing
Leaving a missing tooth alone without replacement is not advised, because it will likely lead to your surrounding teeth loosening, shifting, and eventually falling out themselves. Plus, it can cause discomfort and problems with eating and speaking when a tooth is missing, not to mention that missing teeth are generally considered unattractive.
If you are missing a single tooth, a dental implant is still the best choice, but a dental bridge may also be an option. A bridge requires that surrounding teeth be filed down and fitted with crowns to serve as anchors for the prosthetic tooth, and may need to be replaced at some point in the future. Implants, on the other hand, can be permanent and do not require any prep of surrounding teeth.
If you are missing multiple teeth, or all of your teeth, you may want to consider implant-supported dentures. Regular dentures have many downsides, including:
- No jawbone support, which leads to the sunken, collapsed jaw characteristic of many denture wearers
- The possibility of your dentures loosening and coming out at inopportune moments
- Chafing of the gums if dentures are not perfectly custom fit
- Less bite power
Implant-supported dentures are much more secure, because they are attached to implants rather than being glued on. In addition, the implants provide jaw support, so that you can avoid the sunken "dentures look". Since the implants provide stability, you'll have more bite power, too, meaning the variety of foods you can eat is much less restricted than with typical adhesive dentures.
Schedule Your Dental Implant Consultation
Dr. John Schmid offers free dental implant consultations, so you can come in and ask questions and make sure you are a candidate before committing to the procedure. We want all of our patients to be happy and satisfied with their dental work, so we will make sure that dental implants are the right choice for you before proceeding.
Call Contemporary Cosmetic Dentistry today at 512-329-5967 to schedule your free missing tooth consultation. We serve patients in Lakeway, Bee Cave, and surrounding areas of Austin, TX.
