While we all strive for a full, straight smile, the reality is that it’s very common for people to be missing one or more teeth. Luckily, advancements in dental technologies have allowed family dentists to provide a variety of options to replace missing teeth and rebuild a complete smile for their patients.

Here are three options for replacing missing teeth, offered by your Windsor family dentist.

Dental implants

Dental implants are a popular solution to replacing missing teeth. A dental implant is a screw-like device that is surgically embedded into the jawbone to act as a post for a crown, denture, or partial denture. The implant acts as the tooth root, and the crown acts as the actual tooth, looking and functioning just like your natural tooth. Because the implant is surgically embedded into the bone, it is a permanent solution that, if properly cared for, should last the rest of your life. By replacing the natural tooth root, dental implants preserve the stability of the jawbone.

Dental bridges

Dental bridges are another solution for tooth replacement for patients who are missing one or more teeth. A dental bridge is a device that adheres to the natural teeth that are adjacent to the area where the teeth are missing. Bridges can either be tooth-fixed or implant-fixed.

Tooth-fixed bridges use two crowns that are cemented to the teeth that sit alongside the missing teeth. Those crowns are used to support the replacement tooth being installed between them.

Implant-fixed bridges are supported by implants installed alongside the area where the teeth are being replaced. They are used to support the replacement teeth, just like tooth-fixed bridges.

Like dental implants, dental bridges are a permanent solution that can last a lifetime if properly cared for.

Dentures

Complete and partial dentures are the most cost-effective and least invasive solution to replace missing teeth. Complete dentures are built to replace the entire set of teeth, and partial dentures replace one or more missing teeth. Complete dentures are removable, while partial dentures can be attached to an bridge, or used on a tray that can be removed daily.

If you are missing teeth and would like to discuss your options for replacing them, call the team at Dr. Dan Foresto’s dental office today.