Replacement of missing teeth
Missing teeth can be replaced using removable dentures, bridges and Implants to improve the appearance and dental health. Otherwise teeth may tilt and drift into the gaps and food can get trapped in the spaces. This can increase your risk of tooth cavities and gum treatment. If lots of your teeth are missing, facial muscles can become saggy, and this can affect your speech and appearance. Replacement teeth are made to match the color of your natural teeth as closely as possible.
Removable Dentures
A removable partial denture usually consists of acrylic teeth (plastic) attached to a pink or gum-colored plastic base, which holds the denture in place in the mouth. Partial dentures are used when one or more natural teeth remain in the upper or lower jaw.
Even though partial dentures do have advantages like but main disadvantages includes
- Uncomfortable, least grip.
- Easy to break
- Clasps or wires can cause ulcerations.
- Covers the roof of the mouth, hence it affects speech and function.
- More prone to mouth infections e.g. thrush
- Needs replacing more frequently, as the bone and tissues shrink the denture will become loose and will require replacement.
- Repeated wearing & removing can cause tooth mobility.
Flexi dentures (valplast)
Flexi-dentures are usually same as regular partial dentures except that teeth are attached to a slightly flexible gum colored denture base which extends to make the clasps.
Advantages of Flexidentures:
- Comfortable to wear & No clasps (wires)
- Great grip (retention) much better than acrylic dentures
- Look great- blend very naturally with your gums
- Good chewing experience
- Slightly flexible & UNBREAKABLE
- Very close fitting and precise
Provide good confidence in wearing
Fixed Bridges
Dental bridge is a fixed prosthesis use to replace missing single or multiple tooth/teeth. It is fabricated by reducing the teeth on either side of the missing tooth/ teeth.
The most commonly asked question “Why would need a dental bridge after extraction and what can happen if you don’t restore the space. Consequences of missing teeth are:
- It doesn’t look good can lead to embarrassment or self esteem problems
- Difficulty chewing properly
- Over-eruption of opposing teeth
- Tilting of teeth either side of the space
- Increased risk of tooth decay
- Increased risk of gum disease
Crowns
Crowns, is a tooth shaped “caps”, cover a tooth for restoring its size, shape, strength, and improving its appearance. Crown is a tooth-shaped cap fully covered over the total visible tooth portion lying at and above your gum line. Crowns have the longest life expectancy of all filling materials.
Crowns (Tooth Caps) may be needed in the following situations:
- If the tooth require multiple fillings.
- Broken tooth.
- Worn tooth
- Hold a dental bridge in place
- Cover a discolored tooth
- Cover a dental implant
- Cover a tooth that’s had a root canal procedure
Dental crowns fall into three categories: Metal crowns, Ceramic crowns, Zirconia crowns. Consult your dentist to choose the best crowns suitable for you. First of all, the decision depends on your budget and the type of dental problem you have.
Metal Crowns
Metal crowns offer outstanding longevity, but because they look nothing like natural tooth enamel, they are most often not used.
Ceramic Crowns
Ceramic crowns conceal metallic surfaces under a ceramic layer that closely resembles natural tooth enamel. The only disadvantage, Underlying metal may affect color of porcelain/ceramic. In case of the front teeth, this could be a real problem. Moreover, if you have a gum problem, the dark line of metal could become more visible.
Zirconia Crowns
One of the new technology in dentistry is zirconia crowns, a material that is so strong that it can be used anywhere in the mouth. Zirconia crowns have the most natural look and are generally indistinguishable from natural teeth. In fact, these crowns can be up to five times stronger as compared to their ceramic/metal caps. Ceramic crowns may last for around 10 years or so, those made of zirconia are likely to last a long life.
Dental implants
Dental Implants would be good choice to replace a single tooth or multiple teeth compared to Partial dentures and Fixed Bridges. These are small titanium screws that are inserted into the missing tooth (upper or lower jaw bone). The procedure is painless and usually takes place under local anesthetic. Dental Implants are more comfortable as the teeth are fixed and feel natural like your own teeth.
Complete Dentures
It is a replacement of all the missing natural teeth by a set of artificial teeth for each jaw. These dentures are made for people who have lost all their natural teeth. These dentures molded and designed for an individual, slip over the gums and fit the contours of patient mouth. After extraction of your teeth, it is generally advised to wait for 1-2 months for complete healing of bone and gums to take place so that conventional complete dentures can be given to you for replacement of your missing teeth.
Denture Repair
Whenever any denture, by any chance gets cracked or broken, then nothing to worry about. You should not consider it as a waste. You must take it to your dentist and it can be easily repaired.
Implant supported dentures
An implant-retained denture utilizes direct connections to titanium abutments which are integrated into the bony tissue. They overcome the instability and lack of retention of a common complete denture. Implant-retained dentures are relatively inexpensive when compared to more sophisticated types of implant restoration such as crowns, but they are very effective. Also, being removable, an implant-retained denture is easy to clean and care for, thus reducing future expenses.