Tooth Replacement Options

With dentures, implants, bridges, and more choices out there, it can be hard to find the perfect tooth replacement option. Missing teeth can be uncomfortable and difficult to manage, which is why it is so important to find a tooth replacement solution that fits your needs. At Southern Surgical Arts in Tyler, TX, and Palestine, TX, our oral surgeons are experts at dental implant placements, but they are happy to go over all of your tooth restoration options with you.

Dental implants are an excellent option for many patients, but they aren’t for everyone. Below, we’ve provided some information about a few of the most popular tooth replacement options available: dental implants, full-arch restorations, traditional bridges, and dentures.

Dental Implants

Features:

• Replace one or more missing teeth
• Secure, non-removable replacement teeth
• The potential for lifelong tooth replacements
• Fully restored eating function
• Protect bone structure by preventing bone loss
• Look and feel just like natural teeth

Dental implants are placed beneath the gums to support your new replacement teeth. By mimicking the function of your natural tooth’s root, dental implants prevent bone loss and create a strong hold for your new crown or bridge attachment. Your new teeth will be permanently fixed in place, allowing you to eat, speak, brush, and floss as if your teeth were natural. Dental implants are a great option for patients who want a long-lasting, non-removable tooth replacement option. Patients must be able to undergo a minor dental procedure and recovery period to receive implants.

Full-Arch Replacement

Features:

• Replaces a full arch of upper or lower teeth
• Long-lasting, potentially lifelong replacement teeth
• Secure, dental implant-supported dentures with no removable parts
• Improves eating function and facial appearance
• Protects bone structure and prevents bone loss

Full-arch replacements are a good option for patients who need to replace many teeth at once. Rather than relying on removable dentures that can shift and slip, the full-arch procedure uses a few strategically placed dental implants to hold your new arch of teeth in place. The dental implants prevent bone loss while your new teeth allow you to smile with confidence and eat the foods you enjoy. As with implants, patients must be healthy enough to undergo an outpatient dental procedure to receive a full-arch replacement.

Traditional Bridges

Features:

• Replace one or a few teeth in a row
• Secure, non-removable replacements
• Long lasting, but usually require replacement after several years of wear
• Improves eating function and appearance of missing teeth
• Affixed to your existing healthy teeth

Bridges use your existing teeth for support to bridge the gap created by a missing tooth. Usually, a bridge consists of a prosthetic tooth book-ended by two crowns or caps, which are affixed to the healthy teeth on either side of your missing tooth. Usually, the shape of your healthy teeth will have to be altered to fit the crowns, but once your bridge is in place, it will look and feel very similar to your natural teeth. Bridges help prevent dental shifting, and they are a good choice for patients who want a non-removable option but are unable to receive dental implants.

Traditional Dentures

Features:

• Can replace a few teeth (partial dentures) or an entire arch of missing teeth (full dentures)
• Removable replacement teeth
• Improve eating function and appearance of missing teeth
• Long lasting (may require replacement after several years of wear)

For hundreds of years, dentures have been a popular option for replacing teeth, and they have substantially improved in quality over the last few years. Patients who prefer a removable option or those who are unable to undergo dental procedures may find that dentures are a good choice for them. Dentures improve eating function, but they are not as secure as dental implant-based tooth loss solutions.

Solutions for Missing Teeth in Tyler, TX, and Palestine, TX

At Southern Surgical Arts, our oral surgeons are experts at helping patients find a treatment plan that works for them. No two mouths are alike, and our staff understands that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to oral health. Your treatment plan will largely depend on your specific needs, goals, and condition. To schedule a consultation and learn more about your treatment options, give our office a call.