Tooth Replacement Options
If you are missing one or more teeth, you do not have to continue to live with the embarrassment of gaps in your smile or the difficulty and discomfort when you chew. Replacing and repairing your teeth ensures you have proper bite alignment and that your teeth stay straight, rather than drifting into missing tooth gaps. There are a few different tooth replacement options at our Cherry Creek practice, and we can help you choose the one that fits your budget, dental health, expectations and goals. Please call DeWitt Dental Associates at 303-321-5656 to schedule a consultation.
The two main tooth replacement options are dental implants and dental bridges. Read below to learn more about each option:
Dental implants: A dental implant is used to replace the missing root of a missing tooth. Below your gums, the tooth is rooted in a boney ridge. When you lose a tooth, you typically lose the root as well. A missing root can cause the bone around it to deteriorate, eventually causing a collapsed or shrunken jaw appearance. Some of the advantages of dental implants include:
- Last a very long time, potentially a lifetime
- Prevent shrinkage of bone beneath the missing tooth
- Optimally durable, strong and secure
- Look like your natural teeth
- Are non-removable, and as such do not require daily removal for cleaning
On top of the dental implant, the upper portion of tooth can be replaced with a tooth crown, dental bridge or dentures. All of these restorations can be attached to dental implants to replace one or more missing teeth.
Not everyone is a good candidate for dental implants. The bone beneath your teeth must be strong and there are other factors influencing candidacy. Our experienced dentists can examine your teeth and jaw, review your health history and then determine if dental implants are a tooth replacement option for you.
Dental bridge: A dental bridge is also capable of replacing one or more teeth. Unlike a dental implant, it does not replace the tooth root, but it does utilize tooth crowns and a replacement tooth to form a bridge across the missing tooth. The tooth crowns are placed over the teeth surrounding the missing tooth gap, and these crowns support a replacement tooth that is placed in the gap.
Dental bridges have been a great option for many of our patients. They often require less time and financial investment than dental implants, and they are still non-removable. They have a natural, life-like appearance and can last many decades.
Dentures are a third option for tooth replacement. A full denture can also be attached to dental implants to make the denture more stable and secure.
To learn about your Denver tooth replacement options, please contact DeWitt Dental Associates to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced dentists. Our patients come from across the metro area for tooth repair, including Englewood, Cherry Creek and the surrounding areas.