Replacing Missing Teeth
Dental Implants Presentation
To provide you with a better understanding of dental implants, we have provided the following multimedia presentation. Many common questions pertaining to dental implants are discussed.
Your teeth affect your whole body. When they’re healthy, you’re healthier too. A missing tooth can affect your bite, speech and eating choices. As you rely more on your remaining teeth, you increase the chance they will wear out prematurely, or be damaged or lost. You may also experience headaches and/or jaw pain.
Who would want their appearance and health to deteriorate? That’s the natural consequence of missing teeth – the jaw literally melts away. Generally, people will lose 25% of their supporting jawbone structure within the first year after tooth loss. Dental implants are more easily placed when teeth are first removed because bone replacement becomes more complex as time passes. The great news? Implants act just like your natural teeth. They safeguard and preserve your bone structure, oral health and appearance. Dr. Domagala, working collaboratively with your dentist, will provide you with options so that you can make the most informed decision concerning tooth replacement.
Don’t Settle for Missing Teeth!
Dental implants are natural-looking replacement teeth that can renew your smile. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!
Tooth Replacement Options
You can select from a number of different options to replace your missing teeth – from temporary to long-lasting solutions.
A good candidate for dental implants is anyone missing one or more teeth, or someone who is unhappy with their dentures. Age is not a factor. However, smoking, diseases such as diabetes, and radiation therapy to the area, have been shown to lower the success rate of implant placement.
Dr. Domagala will preform a detailed soft and hard tissue examination which includes photographs, digital films, digital impressions and a cone beam CT scan ( a low-dose 2-dimension scan). Dr. Domagala uses sophisticated software which merges all of the data and allows him to completely reconstruct the jaw and place both the dental implant and the supporting crown 100% virtually to ensure a safe, ideal outcome will be obtained.
Other options include:
Fixed Bridge
A fixed bridge is a connected set of replacement teeth. For support, it is cemented into position on top of the teeth adjacent to the empty space. The protective outer layer of these teeth is usually removed or ground down prior to attaching the bridge. Unlike a dental implant which preserves bone, all other replacement options result in continued bone loss int he area of the lost tooth.
Flipper
A fragile, temporary and inexpensive solution is a removable plastic tooth with a plastic retainer, often called a “flipper”.
Metal Partial
A less fragile option is a removable partial denture cast in metal and plastic. It is held in place by wire clips. A removable partial denture can be removed and reinserted when required by the patient.
Denture
The most common solution, for people missing all teeth in one or both jaws are complete dentures. Many people find dentures uncomfortable, even intolerable, because of differences in jaw size and shape.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are the most comfortable and permanent solution. They form a strong foundation for teeth and keep the jaw healthy and strong. Implants support individual replacement teeth or secure specialized dentures in place. Unlike bridges, no healthy teeth are damaged. Unlike most bridges, implants can last a lifetime. Implant-supported replacement teeth can be attractive, stable, and comfortable for almost any patient.
Why select dental implants over Older types of restorations?
There are several reasons: A dental bridge can sacrifice the structure of surrounding good teeth to bridge the space of the missing tooth/teeth. Removal of surrounding tooth structure can harm the nerve of the tooth resulting in the need for a root canal. In addition, removing a denture or a “partial” at night may be inconvenient, not to mention dentures that slip can be uncomfortable and rather embarrassing.
Looking For Excellent Periodontal Care?
Dr. Domagala can place dental implants, treat gum disease, perform cosmetic periodontal surgery, and more. Contact us today!