It’s easy to take teeth for granted. However, the average American adult has lost 12 permanent teeth to injury, decay, or gum disease by the time they reach age 50. And these numbers only increase for those between 65-74 years of age — 30% of whom no longer have any natural teeth left at all.
Tooth loss often seems like a cosmetic problem, but it impacts more than looks alone. Instead, even one missing tooth increases your chances of more dental issues, including jawbone and tooth loss, and it can alter your ability to talk and chew. However, there are several ways to correct the problem, whether you’re missing one tooth or all of them.
The Dental Touch team in Oakland, California, combines the latest technology with a family-friendly atmosphere to ensure everyone who visits our clinic feels welcome. That also means personalized solutions and individualized care to address every dental issue, including missing teeth.
Do you have missing teeth? Here are a few ways we could help.
Dental implants are by far the industry favorite for replacing missing teeth. What sets this restoration apart from the rest is the surgical post implanted in your jawbone to support the replacement “tooth.”
This step makes an implant a more involved procedure, but the post functions like the root of a natural tooth. The result? A more secure and natural-feeling solution that can last for decades. Implants make a great option for one missing tooth or several.
We even offer All-on-4™ or All-on-6™ implants — a cutting-edge technique that uses four or six implants to support dentures.
Dentures come in several varieties, from those supported by implants to removable partial or full dentures that rest on your gums.
You can use dentures to replace some or all of your teeth. Like dental implants, implant-supported dentures often come with more stability because they get secured to the post in your jaw. They’re also easy to clean and maintain.
Removable dentures that rest on your gums are still a great tooth replacement option, but they can take getting used to and require special handling and care.
Finally, if you have one or more missing teeth but want to avoid implants, a dental bridge could solve your problems.
There are many different dental bridges, but they all work in a similar way: bridging or closing the gap made by missing teeth with artificial ones. In most cases, teeth on each side of the space support the replacement tooth, or pontic. However, you can also have an implant-supported bridge that holds the pontic in position.
Bridge pontics come in numerous materials, including gold, as well as porcelain to blend seamlessly with your natural teeth.
With so many ways to replace a missing tooth, making the right decision can feel overwhelming. But don’t worry; you don’t have to do it on your own.
At the end of the day, the best plan for replacing a missing tooth starts with a trip to your dentist. Each replacement comes with its own advantages and disadvantages, so an expert can help guide you through your options after examining your mouth and evaluating your oral health.
So don’t wait to restore your smile and protect your oral health moving forward. Do you have missing teeth? Contact our office in Oakland, California, to schedule a consultation by calling 510-324-9096 or book a visit online today.
