Tooth Replacement Options: Implants, Dentures, Implant-Supported Dentures
At the offices of Thomas L. Anderson, DDS and Associates, we want to make sure our patients always have strong and healthy smiles. It’s so important to our daily lives that we can smile, eat, and talk with confidence.
If you’re missing a single tooth or multiple teeth, those daily tasks can become a challenge. While keeping your natural teeth is always the number one option, sometimes tooth replacement options are needed to restore and maintain a healthy smile. We can help you decide which of our replacement options, implants, dentures, or implant-supported dentures, is best for you and your smile goals.
Related Case Study: Tooth Replacement Smile Makeover: Are You Ready to Enhance Your Smile?
Dental Implants
Dental implants can fix multiple teeth, a single tooth, or a full set of teeth – so the tooth replacement options are plenty, making dental implants a popular option for replacement. Implants require three major steps to consider and can take a series of visits to our office to fully complete the process:
- Surgical implant placement
- Healing from the surgical placement of the implant(s)/temporary teeth placement
- Replacement of any missing teeth with crowns
While the process may sound extensive, the benefits of dental implants are many. Dental implants:
- Look and act like natural teeth
- Durable, long-lasting
- Feel strong and stable
- Help preserve bone tissue and bone
- Allow you to brush and floss normally
Learn more: Tooth Replacement Options: Are You a Dental Implant Candidate?
Dentures
There are two major types of dentures:
- partial dentures
- complete removable dentures
They keyword being removable. Unlike dental implants and implant-supported dentures, traditional partial or complete dentures are removable, not permanently implanted into your mouth. Dentures can be a quick, non-invasive, and more affordable fix to missing teeth.
If you’re experiencing tooth loss from gum disease, injury, or tooth decay, dentures can help your appearance and smile and also restore your ability to speak and eat.
Learn More about Dentures from the American Dental Association HERE.
Implant-Supported Dentures
While implant-supported dentures are similar to traditional dentures, the difference lies in the use of implants for retention instead of adhesive. The implant can reduce the bulkiness of traditional dentures and give more space for the tongue.
This means that the ability to taste food with dentures will be greatly enhanced. They’re also sturdier and there’s no need to any adhesive at any time because the dentures are so well supported by the implants. This helps preserve bone, tissue, and muscle tone in the face.
Learn more about Implant-Supported Dentures HERE.
The Basics of Dental Implants
Today’s dental technology has created a wonderful tooth replacement option that has a huge success rate – dental implants. So, let’s review what they are exactly.
Dental implants are devices consisting of small posts often made of titanium. These posts are replacements for natural tooth roots and will connect to an abutment, which is built on top of the implant post. The abutment allows the artificial tooth to be connected to the implant post. Three parts come together to create one naturally-looking, strong tooth.
Getting a dental implant requires a surgical procedure. Your dentist will use a local anesthetic to make sure you’re pain free, and then the titanium implant will be placed into the jaw bone. Before the surgical procedure takes place, you will meet with your dentist to come up with a personalized treatment plan that fits your needs.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants are so popular because of their many benefits and success rate. Dental implants restore missing teeth by:
- Give you back your chewing ability and normal bite
- Prevents bone loss in the jaw
- Boost confidence
- Benefits your oral health and overall health
- Are cleaned just like your natural teeth, so they’re low maintenance
- Are stable and permanent
- Prevent your other teeth from becoming misaligned
- Look like your natural teeth
- Restores your quality of life
Are You a Dental Implant Candidate?
If dental implants sound like a good option for you, it’s helpful to know if you may be considered a candidate for them. You and your dentist will discuss this in more detail, but here are some of the basics:
- Healthy enough for surgery
- Good oral health
- Can invest the time for dental implants – which can take multiple appointments
- Right amount of bone mass for the implants
Restore Missing Teeth with Dental Implants
Learn more about why this popular treatment is so successful through some of our blogs:
- Restorative Dentistry: Dentures, Bridges, and Implants! OH MY!
- Replacing a Tooth with a Dental Implant Changes Everything
Customized Restorative Dentistry that is Best for YOU
If you are interested in tooth replacement options, it’s a good idea to discuss it carefully with Dr. Anderson first. If you are in good general health, one of these tooth replacement options, dentures, bridges, or dental implants, should be a good fit for you. In fact, your health is more of a factor than your age. Chronic illnesses, such as diabetes or leukemia, may interfere with healing and patients with these issues may not be good candidates for certain replacement options. Remember, using tobacco can also slow healing, regardless of which type of treatment you decide on.
Your first step to restore missing teeth, is to schedule a consultation with a restorative dentistry expert at the offices of Thomas L. Anderson, DDS and Associates to see which tooth replacement option is best for you; dental implants, dentures, or implant-supported dentures, may be the perfect remedy to preserve a youthful appearance and restore the function of your bite.
Contact us today to schedule your dental appointment and meet with our skilled dentists at one of our three conveniently located dental office locations within the Kansas City area, including Lee’s Summit / Independence, the Country Club Plaza and Downtown Kansas City. The gentle dentists and expert team at Thomas L. Anderson and Associates look forward to working with you to treat your dental emergency, achieve proper oral health and a beautiful smile that will last a lifetime. If you have any questions about your dental insurance benefits, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are happy to review your policy! Please give us a call today to schedule an appointment and become part of our dental family.