Single Tooth vs. Multiple Teeth Replacement Option: Which One is Ideal?
Teeth can tell a lot about your health, diet, and how you take care of yourself, that is why it is vital to care for the teeth. However, factors like decay or tooth damage can lead to extraction leading to missing teeth.
Missing teeth affect your self-esteem and confidence in many ways. Furthermore, it affects the jaw structure and the surrounding teeth, causing them to weaken. Your oral health must have your teeth replaced to preserve your jaw bone support.
Several restorative dentistry treatments are available that can help you achieve this goal, and all look different but have the same function—replacing your teeth. Our dentist in Seattle will examine your teeth to decide if you need single or multiple teeth replacement treatment, depending on the number of teeth missing.
What Are Single Teeth Replacement Options?
Single tooth replacements are used when you have lost one tooth due to decay or damage. The primary teeth replacement options used are dental bridges or implants.
- Dental bridges
Dental bridges are permanent restorative devices made of two dental crowns that anchor the artificial teeth. The bridges can either be tooth or implant-supported, depending on the jawbone. These restorative devices also come in different types like traditional, cantilever, or Maryland bridges.
The dental bridge procedure needs at least two dental visits. In tooth-supported bridges, the dentist will reshape the teeth to create room for the anchor crowns and create an impression of the teeth. This mold is used to create permanent dental bridges, and the dentist will fix them on the second dental visit.
- Dental implants
Teeth implants are artificial tooth roots surgically inserted into a jawbone. They are used to restore teeth that have been lost or damaged. They can be made of titanium, stainless steel, or nickel-titanium alloy. Before getting dental implants near you, it is important to know if you are eligible. It is crucial to have sufficient bone support to anchor the dental implants.
The dental implants procedure takes a few steps spread over a couple of months. Our dentist will insert the titanium screws on the jaw and stitch the gums back to promote healing. Osseointegration occurs at this stage, where the implant and the bone fuse to offer sturdy support.
What are the Multiple Teeth Replacement Treatments?
Multiple teeth replacements are designed to replace more than one missing tooth, and they come in different types.
- Dental dentures
Dental dentures are artificial replacements for natural teeth and are made of various materials, including porcelain, metal, and plastic.
Teeth dentures near you are either be removable or fixed. Fixed dentures are attached to the jawbone permanently and cannot be removed. Removable dentures include a partial or full denture attached to natural teeth.
- All-on-4 dental implants
All-on-4 dental implants mean that four implants are used to support all teeth. These implants are ideal for people missing almost all teeth and are looking for permanent support. The dentist will fix four implants on the jaw— two on the upper and lower jaws, and the artificial teeth are then fixed.
These implants are a suitable option because they have a shorter healing time. Additionally, you will need fewer dental implants (four) than six titanium screws if you choose the conventional ones.
How Can You Protect Your Teeth and Prevent Tooth Extraction?
It is important to know how to protect your teeth and prevent tooth extraction, and here are some tips:
- Brush with fluoride toothpaste, floss after meals, and rinse mouth with antibacterial mouth rinse daily
- Avoid sugary drinks and foods and increase your intake of teeth-friendly issue
- Don’t use your teeth as tools to open bottles because it can weaken them
- Avoid smoking or chewing tobacco to keep your gums healthy and free of infection
- Visit the dentist regularly, at least bi-annually, to get your teeth and gums examined
- Wear a mouthguard protective gear when playing sports or at night if you suffer from bruxism.
Schedule an Appointment
Visit 3rd & Columbia Dental for more information about the teeth replacement options and which one is ideal.