If you’re missing one or more of your teeth in Bluffton, you may be wondering what your options are for replacing them. Replacing missing teeth is important for your oral health, since it can help prevent future complications like teeth shifting. A full mouth of teeth also lets you smile, speak, and eat with confidence.
But how should you replace your missing teeth? That’s a great question. So in this blog, the team at Buckwalter Dental Care will look into the 4 most popular options for replacing missing teeth. Let’s get started.
Partial dentures use a metal and plastic framework. This supports one or more false teeth, which are usually made of a durable acrylic material. Partial dentures snap onto your remaining healthy teeth, which means they’re held in place with minimal movement.
They are pretty durable, too, and can last over 10 years with proper care. In addition to that, they’re very affordable and are typically covered by dental insurance. This makes them a very good option if you’re on a budget and you’re only missing a few teeth.
Full dentures are only recommended if you’ve lost most or all of your natural teeth. That’s because they require the extraction of any remaining healthy teeth. Dentures are made of a full set of teeth, which are set into an acrylic base. This base must fit perfectly over your gums, so all remaining teeth must be pulled.
The biggest advantage of full dentures is their low cost. They are the cheapest way to replace a full mouth of teeth, and insurance usually covers at least part of the treatment. However, it does take some time to get used to them, and they have a relatively short lifespan of 5-10 years.
Dental bridges are useful for replacing one missing tooth, or a row of 2-3 adjacent missing teeth. They use two porcelain dental crowns, which act as “anchors” and attach to healthy teeth. Between these anchors, one or more false teeth can be suspended, acting as a “bridge” and restoring your smile.
Bridges never move or shift, can last 15+ years, and look and feel very natural. They don’t require much special care, either. However, they are significantly more expensive than partial dentures. They also don’t protect the health of your jaw bone, unlike dental implants.
Dental implants are considered to be the best way to replace missing teeth. They consist of a titanium implant that’s shaped like a screw, and a dental implant restoration, most often a porcelain dental crown. The screw-shaped implant is placed directly into your gums and jaw bone.
Over time, it heals and bonds with your jaw. This allows it to function as an artificial tooth root. Once it’s fully healed, the crown is attached, and this functions as a false tooth. Together, the implant and crown completely replace your natural tooth.
This provides implants with a few great benefits. First, they can easily last 30+ years with proper care. They also look and feel natural, and require no special care. You can treat them just like natural teeth. However, implants are the most expensive way to restore missing teeth, and are not usually covered by insurance. While they are worth the investment, the up-front cost is usually higher than other methods of tooth replacement.
Would you like to replace one or more missing teeth in Bluffton? At Buckwalter Dental Care, Dr. Joel Darrah is here to help you explore your options. At your appointment, he will discuss the pros and cons of each treatment, expected costs, and all of the other details you need to know. So don’t wait. Call us at (843) 815-3232 or contact us online to schedule your appointment today.
