Tackling Your Dental Treatment Plan

Tackling Your Dental Treatment Plan

About Me

Tackling Your Dental Treatment Plan

Hi! My name is Addy Reed. I’m 57 years old and have been neglectful about going to the dentist. Last month was my first dentist visit in six years. I had always been diligent about twice a year cleanings and checkups, but time got away from me until one of my crowns came out. As we age, the dental work from years past tends to do that. When you neglect to visit the dentist on a regular basis, the list of things that need to be done may grow; at least this was my experience. I left the dentist office with an extensive list of things I needed to have done. The office staff was very kind. They are working with me to set up a plan. I’m going to share some ideas on how to tackle a dental treatment plan, keeping it affordable and not too overwhelming.

Archive

Tags

 

A Comparison of Three Tooth-Replacement Options

23 January 2017
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

Share

The time has passed when dentures were the only option for replacing missing teeth. The number of teeth you are missing, your health, and your budget are a few of the factors that will determine the tooth replacement that will work best for you. Here is a comparison of three common techniques used to replace missing teeth.

Dentures

Dentures are still viewed as the traditional tooth-replacement option. Dentures have withstood the test of time because they are still an excellent choice in some cases. The most common case where dentists recommend dentures is when you are missing a full set of upper or lower teeth.

If you are missing most of your teeth but still have a small number remaining, your dentist may recommend overdentures. Overdentures are dentures that are contoured to the shape of your dental arch and the teeth that are left in your mouth. This allows the overdentures to sit firmly in place without the need to remove any remaining teeth.

Dental Implants

Dental-implant installation is a procedure that is growing in popularity due to its many advantages over traditional tooth-replacement methods. Unlike dentures, dental implants remain in your mouth permanently after they are installed. Implants consist of titanium screws that are inserted into the jawbone, an abutment that erupts through the gums, and a porcelain or ceramic crown that is fitted on the abutment.

Dental implants represent the pinnacle of prosthodontics when it comes to providing a replacement that is as strong as your natural teeth. Additionally, your implant crown will be virtually indistinguishable from your natural teeth, as porcelain and ceramic crowns mimic the color and luster of enamel almost perfectly. The biggest downsides of dental implants are that they are more expensive than other replacement options, and you must be healthy enough for surgery to have implants installed.

Dental Bridges

Dental bridges are best described as permanent partial dentures. Bridges consist of multiple crowns suspended in the gaps created by your missing teeth. A bridge can be supported by permanent implants installed on one or both sides of the bridge or by adjacent natural teeth. Bridges provide the best compromise between implants and dentures if you are missing a few teeth close together but not a full arch.

Keep these pros and cons in mind when you talk to your dentist about tooth replacement so you can find the dental prosthetic that is best suited for your needs.