“Bridging the gap in your smile”
Start of a new year! But are you feeling long in the tooth?
Are you unhappy because of :
- Damaged, decayed or missing teeth?
Now’s the time to get your full smile back – with restorative dentistry.
If there’s one resolution you should definitely keep in the New Year – it’s a plan for a healthier and happier you!
In this article – you’ll get all your need-to-know essentials about full mouth reconstruction, including:
- Dentures
- Dental Bridge
- Dental implants
Put off fixing damaged teeth or tooth loss for too long?
Now’s the time to plan for some smile dental care
Click here to book a visit to a dentist near you without delay!
Restorative dentistry – what you need to know!
“What to do when you lose teeth?” It’s a question often asked. But tooth loss treatment can often be put off or simply ignored.
According to a National Study of Adult Oral Health, 2017–18:
Why tooth loss can cause longer term damage
A missing tooth can:
Place added stress on teeth you still have
This is because any remaining teeth may lean over or move into the gap, and affect how you bite.
Food particles can still get trapped, and plaque build up. This may lead to tooth decay and gum disease, that’s known to:
- Increase the risk of further serious health conditions, including stroke, heart disease, hypertension, and even some types of cancer.
The only real answer is restorative dentistry – or as dental clinics may sometimes refer to it as – prosthodontics. It’s a branch of dentistry aimed at restoring your normal oral function and appearance.
Let’s see how it can help you plan for a healthier and happier you …
What are my options for restoring damaged or missing teeth?
Restorative dentistry offers you a range of options, typically:
- Dentures
- Dental bridge or crown
- Dental implants
Planning to replace tooth loss and improve your smile with a happier healthier you comes down to balancing the key needs of:
- Oral function – eating and speaking
- Appearance and confidence
- Affordability
Often the first choice considered is between dentures or a dental bridge …
Dentures
Opting for an affordable denture is a traditional route to take when replacing a gap between your teeth. And there is more than one type available.
What is called a denture?
A denture is …
- A single or set of removable teeth – custom-moulded from flesh-coloured acrylic – to sit comfortably and securely in the gum tissue gap between your existing teeth
There are 3 well-known types of dentures:
- Partial dentures – for one or more missing teeth
These are attached to your remaining natural teeth with clasps, and are normally made of plastic, nylon, or metal.
- Complete dentures – to replace all missing teeth
Personalised to perfectly fit into the gums of both your upper and lower jaw.
- Implant-supported dentures – for one or more missing teeth
Also known as overdentures, here the dentures are actually secured to the jaw with dental implants. Often recommended for replacing teeth in the lower jaw.
How dentures are fitted
To ensure a set of dentures fit into your mouth as closely and comfortably as possible, your dentist takes a plaster mould impression of your teeth and gums.
At the same time the dentist will try to match the exact colour and shade to your own teeth.
Your personalised dentures will be created in a dental laboratory, and when ready, your dentist will fit them into your mouth for you.
Benefits of a dentures
- Can replace one or more missing teeth
- Surgery is not required
- Real, noticeable improvement to eating, speaking – and smiling.
- Typical lifespan of 5-8 years – with daily cleaning. But may need to be adjusted for wear over time, and to natural changes such as bone loss.
There can be downsides too
- Dentures are removable and can sometimes slightly shift when you eat
- Acrylic base can also be visible when talking or smiling
- Its colour may not always exactly match the natural colour of your gum
An alternative to partial dentures can be fixed bridges …
Dental bridge
A dental bridge replaces a missing tooth with:
- A “false tooth” permanently attached with dental cement to teeth either side of the existing gap. Alternatively, a resin bonded bridge may be used.
The 2 main types of dental bridge are :
- Two crowns – made of porcelain or metal – with the false tooth secured in the middle.
- Adhesive bridge – a false tooth with ‘wings’ either side, which are permanently attached to the inner surfaces of teeth either side of the existing gap.
How a dental bridge is fitted
The same procedure as creating a set of dentures. However, your dentist will give you a local anaesthetic before fitting the bridge into your mouth. But you will still be awake throughout.
Benefits of a dental bridge
- Can replace one or more missing teeth
- Surgery is not required
- Restores facial structure and support – and – helps prevent signs of premature ageing such as sagging of facial muscles.
- Durable and long-lasting – 5 to 15 years plus with regular oral health, care and maintenance.
A third option is often referred to as the “gold standard” in full mouth reconstruction …
Dental implants
A dental implant consists of 3 elements:
- Crown – tooth-coloured ceramic or metal, such as gold, titanium, cobalt or zircon alloy
- Abutment – support for the crown
- Implant – titanium or zirconia screw
How are dental implants attached?
- Dental implants are inserted directly into your jawbone – inside the gap where the root of your missing tooth once occupied
You also have a range of options …
4 main dental implant types:
- Full mouth reconstruction – often used where all or nearly all teeth are missing.
A set of four to six dental implants replaces an entire upper or lower jaw of missing teeth.
- Single dental implant
A titanium screw is directly placed into the gap of the original tooth root in the jawbone. Around 5-10 months later the surrounding bone fuses with the implant and holds it firmly and securely in firmly in place.
Then your replacement tooth – matching your natural teeth colour – is secured on top.
- Implant supported bridge – for several teeth missing in a row
A traditional bridge denture is secured by attaching – and sometimes having to cut – into your existing healthy teeth on either side of the gap.
As with a single implant the implant supported bridge is also first placed into the jawbone and allowed several months to fuse together. Then abutment posts are attached to the implant.
A further period of time is allowed to elapse before the bridge is securely placed on top of the implants.
- Implant-supported dentures – where many teeth are missing in a row
Also known as ‘clip in’ or ‘snap in’ dentures because they sit on an acrylic base, attached to dental implants.
This denture type is fitted with a bar that clips onto the implants that allows for removal and cleaning. This makes it more secure than a standard removable denture and less likely to move around in your mouth or drop out.
Identical implant process means around 5 or 6 months is needed before the dentures can be inserted onto the bar.
IMPORTANT! Dental implants may not be suitable if you:
- Have gum disease
- Smoke, drink heavily or take recreational drugs
- Have poorly controlled diabetes
Summary
Restorative dentistry – it’s the one new year resolution that you should aim to make and keep for a healthier, happier you!
Tooth loss, and the gaps left will keep placing stress on your remaining teeth, which may lean over or move into the gap, and affect how you bite.
Plaque can still build leading to tooth decay or gum disease, that’s known to increase the risk of further serious – and even life threatening health conditions, such as stroke or even cancer.
With restorative dentistry your 3 main options are:
- Dentures
- Dental bridge
- Dental implants
You also have several further options for each type of denture, dental bridge or dental implant that’s best for you.
All you have to do is plan how to balance affordability with the need to restore your appearance and confidence to smile, speak and eat! So then you can Live, Smile and Shine.
FAQs
Q: I have no teeth what are my options?
A: Removable “complete” dentures are customised to perfectly fit into the gums of both your upper and lower jaw. Alternatively, a permanent full mouth reconstruction would involve a set of four to six dental implants replacing an entire upper or lower jaw of missing teeth.
Q: How to keep food from getting under your dentures?
A: Before eating, close your mouth with teeth together, then swallow. Try to take smaller bites and chew thoroughly before swallowing. Drink plenty of liquid between bites.
Q: How much do full mouth implants cost in Australia?
A: Costs can vary significantly according to type of procedure and location. An average price can start from $19,000 up to around $35,000 per arch.
Find out which restorative dentistry plan is right for you