What happens to the smile?
When a tooth is lost from disease or trauma it obviously affects the aesthetics od the smile.
What happens to the bone?
When the tooth is in the mouth it stimulates the surrounding bone with each bite. This preserves the bone integrity by ‘exercising’ the bone
What happens to the opposing teeth?
With the loss of a tooth, such as a molar shown above, stability is lost. This results in movement of areas of least resistance.
What happens to the adjacent teeth?
When a tooth is lost, the adjacent teeth lend to drift into the area of least resistance. This causes irritations (food trap), esthetic complications (spaces between teeth) and ooculsion problems (improper bite).
Replacement option-Implant
One option to replace a tooth is a dental implant. In most cases this option is the best solution for a single missing tooth. Placement of the implant in the jawbone prevents any further bone loss in addition to preserving the healthy tooth structure of the adjacent teeth. The implant is placed into the jaw bone using a precise and gentle surgical procedure.
What happens to the smile?
When several teeth are missing, the lip line can appear distorted due to the lack of support from underneath. This results in an unnatural and aesthetically unpleasing smile.
What happens to the bone?
When the tooth is in the mouth it stimulates the surrounding bone with each bite. This preserves the bone integrity by ‘exercising’ the bone.
What happens to the opposing teeth?
With the loss of several teeth, such as molars shown above, stability is lost. This results in movement to areas of the least resistance.
What happens to the adjacent teeth?
When several teeth are missing in both the upper and lower arch, the teeth will start to shift, drift and over erupt into the open spaces or the path of least resistance.
Replacement option- implant
An option for replacing several teeth are dental implants. In most cases this option is the best solution for missing teeth. Placement of the implant in the jawbone prevents any further bone loss in addition to preserving the healthy tooth structure of the adjacent teeth. Implants preserve bone and enamel while at the same look, feel and function much like your natural teeth. Implants provide a great long term solution for permanent tooth replacement.
What happens to the smile?
When someone is missing all of their teeth the facial esthetics are compromised due to facial atrophy.
What happens to the bone?
When someone is missing all of their teeth the jawbone will continue to resorb or melt away from disuse atrophy
What happens to the face?
What many people do not realize is the negative effect that this bone loss can have on their profile. Here we see normal profile.
Replacement option-Denture
There are several options available for replacing a full arch of missing teeth. The simplest form of stabilizing loose dentures and minimizing the loss of bone through disuse atrophy is with two implant anchors. The implants are first put into the bone.
2 implants stabilizing dentures
An option is the placement of two implants into the lower jaw which again help prevent further bone loss and can be used to secure a lower denture.
4 implants stabilizing a denture
A third option is the placement of four implants in to the lower jaw which will prevent any further bone loss and provide a rigid platform to support the new teeth.
Complete set of implant teeth
The lst option would be a fixed solution that involves placing several implants into the arch that will act much like natural tooth roots in preserving the remaining bone.
Bridge
Missing 1st lower molar.
Denture
A removable partial denture can be used to replace a missing tooth.
Implant
The third option is the dental implant. In most cases this option is the best solution for a single missing tooth. Placement of the implant in the jawbone prevents any further bone loss in addition to preserving the healthy tooth structure of the adjacent teeth. The implant is placed in the area of the missing tooth.
Front tooth implant
Posts placed on implants in the lateral positions. These posts are gold color to minimize the metal shine through the tissue.
Back tooth implant
Missing lower right molar being replaced by one single tooth implant to restore normal chewing function.
Back teeth some implants
Upper left side replaced with implants.
2 implants stabilizing dentures
Clinical example of 2 implants with bar and clip. front view
4 implants stabilizing dentures
Clinical example of four implants
Complete set of implant teeth
Patient missing all upper teeth, implants have been placed and are ready to restore. You are looking at the healing abutments. Note the healthy pink gums after healing.
Single front tooth
Front view: front lateral tooth missing with cut down teeth on both sides. Notice how much the natural teeth have to be cut down to deliver the bridge.
Several teeth
Prepared teeth
The entire arch bridge
Clinical example of several missing teeth and broken down teeth.
Denture single tooth
Side view of lower right missing teeth. This ridge will continue to resorb due to the missing teeth.
Denture several tooth
Top view: Before
Denture many teeth
This patient has many missing teeth and collapsed bite and did not want to see metal clasps. Both of these requirements were solved using crown on the remaining teeth.
Denture all teeth
Full top arch denture