If you’re missing one or more of your teeth in Long Beach, you may be wondering if it’s worth replacing them, and what your options are for restoring your smile. The answer is, of course, “yes!” Tooth loss doesn’t just affect your appearance, but your oral health, too. If you want a bright smile and a healthy mouth, it’s really important to replace your missing teeth. Read on and learn more in this blog from Heartwell Dental.
Why Should I Replace My Missing Teeth?
There are a few different reasons that it’s so important to replace your missing teeth, even if you’re only missing one or two teeth, or a rear tooth that’s not visible:
- Restore your appearance and confidence – Tooth loss can make you feel embarrassed about how you look. You may hide your teeth when you laugh, smile, or even eat. With replacement teeth, you can feel proud of your appearance once again.
- Eat and chew normally – Losing teeth makes it harder to eat your favorite foods. Losing one or two front teeth can make it hard to tear into foods like chicken or steak. And losing rear teeth makes it hard to eat tough foods like broccoli or crusty bread.
- Speak more clearly – Tooth loss can affect your speech, too, particularly if you lose some front teeth. Your teeth, tongue, and mouth all work together to create sounds, and tooth loss can make you sound “slushy” or unclear when you speak.
- Improve your oral health – Losing a tooth can cause problems like teeth shifting toward the now-empty socket, or bone loss near the affected area. With the right tooth replacement, you can improve your oral health and maintain a healthier smile for the years and decades to come.
What Are My Options For Replacing Missing Teeth?
At Heartwell Dental, you’ve got a few different options for replacing your missing teeth. Each one is a bit different, and you may be a good candidate for any of these treatments, depending on your situation.
- Partial dentures – Partial dentures consist of several false teeth, which are held in place with a metal and plastic framework. This clips onto your remaining healthy teeth, restoring your smile. They're a great option if you’ve only lost a few teeth and you’re on a budget.
- Full dentures – Full dentures are a little different. With full dentures, you’ll need to have any remaining teeth removed. Then, Dr. Abraam Girgis will fit you with a full set of false teeth, which are placed in a gum-colored acrylic base. Full dentures are a fast and cost-effective way to restore the upper, lower, or both rows of your teeth. But they are only recommended if you have severe oral health issues, since they require the removal of all of your remaining teeth.
- Dental bridges – Dental bridges are made of two dental crowns, which are placed on healthy teeth next to a gap in your smile. These crowns suspend one or more false teeth or “pontics” over the gap in your smile. Bridges are permanent and don’t have to be removed, and can be used to restore one, two, or several adjacent missing teeth.
- Dental implants – Dental implants consist of two parts. The implant itself is a small, screw-shaped piece of titanium. It’s placed into your jaw bone, where it heals and functions as an artificial root. Then, an “implant restoration” is attached to the implant to restore your tooth.
You can replace one tooth with an implant and a dental crown, or multiple implants can be used to support a dental bridge or a full set of implant-retained dentures. Implants are the longest-lasting, most natural, and most convenient option for replacing teeth, but they are more expensive than bridges or dentures.
Interested In Restoring Your Smile? Contact Heartwell Dental For An Appointment!
Dr. Girgis is an experienced restorative dentist in Long Beach. If you’re missing one or more teeth and you’re ready to replace them and get your smile back, the team at Heartwell Dental is here to help. Contact us online or give us a call at (562) 421-9411 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Girgis. He can discuss all of your options including dentures, dental bridges, and dental implants, and help you choose the procedure that’s right for your oral health and your budget.
.webp)