If you have recently had a tooth removed due to decay or an injury, you may be wondering what your options are for replacing your tooth and restoring your smile. At Redmond Art of Dentistry, Dr. Bickel is here to help:
A PARTIAL OR FULL DENTURE
If you are on a budget and need to restore one or two teeth, or if you have had a full arch of teeth extracted, a denture is likely the best option for you. Dentures are affordable and usually covered by insurance, and they can be crafted and placed within just a few weeks.
Partial dentures usually attach to other healthy teeth using a wire-based frame or plastic. Full dentures can only be worn if all of your teeth have been extracted from one or both arches, as they fit directly against the gum.
DENTAL BRIDGES
Dental bridges are a good alternative to partial dentures. They use two dental crowns, which are placed on healthy “abutment” teeth, to support 1-2 “false teeth”, which are built of porcelain. These false teeth literally “bridge” the gap left by your missing teeth. Bridges look and feel natural, and will not shift in your mouth.
DENTAL IMPLANTS
Dental implants consist of two primary parts; the dental implant itself, and the implant-supported restoration. A dental implant is a small, rod or screw-shaped piece of titanium that is surgically implanted in your gum line where the root of your tooth used to be.
Once this implant heals and bonds permanently with your jaw and gum tissue, an implant-supported restoration is attached. A dental crown, which replaces a single tooth, is the most common restoration. However, multiple implants can be used to support a dental bridge, or even a full arch of upper and lower teeth, with implant-supported, permanent dentures.
KNOW YOUR OPTIONS FOR REPLACING YOUR MISSING TOOTH!
It’s critical to replace a missing tooth as soon as you can after you’ve had an extraction in order to avoid teeth shifting and the other negative effects of missing teeth. And at Redmond Art of Dentistry, Dr. Bickel can help. Contact us at (425) 386-7599 to schedule an appointment, or come to our office at 16455 NE 85th Street, Suite #101, Redmond, WA 98052 for an in-person consultation.