Are you among the estimated 178 million Americans missing at least one tooth? Maybe ill-fitting dentures are keeping you from enjoying your favorite foods and activities. If so, it’s time to explore modern tooth replacement solutions – starting with dental implants.
The Importance of Replacing Missing Teeth
While it may be tempting to simply live with gaps in your smile, replacing missing teeth is crucial for maintaining oral health and function. Empty spaces put additional strain on remaining natural teeth as they drift into the open areas. This can severely compromise your bite alignment and lead to even further tooth loss over time.
Not replacing missing teeth also allows jawbone deterioration to occur in those areas, leading to facial collapse and an aged appearance. Simply put, replacing lost teeth preserves your youthful facial structure and allows you to speak, chew, and smile with full confidence.
Dental Implants: The “Tooth Replacement Gold Standard”
Among all tooth replacement options, dental implants most closely mimic the look, feel and function of natural teeth. An implant involves surgically placing a small titanium post directly into the jawbone to replace the missing root structure. The jaw’s bone is then allowed to build up around the metal implant post to create an extremely strong and sturdy foundation.
Once fused with bone, the implant is topped with a customized dental crown to create an incredibly realistic and durable replacement tooth. Implants can replace single teeth, support multi-tooth bridges, or secure full or partial dentures for patients.
The Benefits of Choosing Dental Implants:
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- Natural appearance that blends seamlessly with existing teeth
- Unmatched stability and full chewing/biting capabilities
- Prevents jawbone deterioration and facial sagging over time
- No need for denture adhesives or messy creams
- Long lifespan of 25+ years with proper care
- Permanent solution that feels like your real teeth
All-on-4®: A Revolutionary Full Arch Solution
For patients missing all teeth on one or both dental arches, the innovative All-on-4® treatment concept uses just four strategically placed implants to permanently support a full arch prosthetic.
Rather than relying on unstable, removable dentures, All-on-4® anchors beautiful, natural-looking replacement teeth directly to the jawbone for unrivaled comfort and stability. You can smile broadly, eat favorite foods without restrictions, and maintain an active lifestyle – with no risk of slipping or requiring adhesives.
All-on-4® offers a true “Teeth-in-a-Day” experience, with a temporary fixed bridge often placed on the same day as implant surgery. The final customized full-arch prosthetic is then attached after a few months of healing and integration.
Other Tooth Replacement Options
Other Options
While dental implants are considered the gold standard, other solutions like fixed bridges and dentures may be more appropriate in certain situations or lower budgets. Dental Bridges use crowns on adjacent teeth to suspend a replacement tooth in the gap. This non-surgical and cost-effective option can replace 1-3 missing teeth but requires reshaping healthy tooth structure as anchors.
Partial Dentures rely on a gum-colored base with prosthetic teeth to restore multiple missing areas. Affordable upfront but offer less stability and contribute to jawbone loss over time. Require adhesives.
Full Dentures replace entire arches of missing teeth and can be used with or without dental implants to enhance retention and prevent slipping. Traditional full dentures are removable and have dietary restrictions.
The Dental Implant Process at Mason Dental
At Mason Dental, we believe dental implants should be accessible to as many patients as possible. Dr. David White routinely performs bone grafting procedures to restore depleted jawbone volume and create a sturdy foundation for implants.
We guide you through every step – from the initial 3D CT imaging and surgical implant placement to the final design and attachment of your customized crowns, bridges, partial or full arch All-on-4® restorations.
Our advanced in-house dental lab, combined with our team’s artistic cosmetic dentistry skills, ensure beautifully seamless and natural-looking results tailored to your facial features.
If you’re ready to explore your tooth replacement options, from single implants to full mouth reconstruction with All-on-4®, we invite you to schedule a consultation. Reclaim your smile, nutrition, and confidence with long-lasting implant dentistry solutions today!
