Tooth Replacement, Dentures and Dental Implants
Unfortunately some individuals lose one or more teeth at one point of their lifetime. Fortunately, there are many options nowadays to address the missing tooth/teeth concern. Today, the standard of care for one missing tooth is an implant. Advancements in technology, treatment protocols and doctor training have resulted in unbelievable leaps and bounds in bringing dental implant therapy into general practice clinic.
In many cases, multiple teeth are missing and more traditional techniques such as partial and complete dentures along with bridge can be utilized for various reasons to restore the missing dentition.
Traditional complete upper and lower dentures or "plates" can be used to replace all missing teeth. While they do certainly work, in many situations they may not be the most ideal solution. The material of choice for complete dentures is acrylic.
Partial dentures replace some missing teeth in area where bridges are not appropriate. The dentures are usually fabricated combining metal framework made of cobalt chromium and acrylic base and teeth to replicate the missing teeth. The metal clasps are added to help to hold the denture(s) in place by hugging the teeth adjacent to the missing areas.
Traditionally, missing one to three teeth in a row, a tooth borne bridge, also known as a fixed partial denture, can be used to replace the missing tooth (teeth). These structures are fabricated in such a way that they are permanently bonded to both sides of the missing area on healthy natural teeth. The natural teeth on both sides must be prepared by grinding them down to a smaller version of themselves to accommodate the fabricate the prosthetic. The bridge are then permanently cemented on the prepared teeth. One must be very diligent in keeping all surfaces of the new prosthesis clean and plaque free.
Implant therapy can improve the quality of life dramatically by providing patients with most lifelike feeling and looking restorations that are available.
Today, traditional teeth replacements can be replaced by utilizing one or more implants onto which a variety of different attachments can be used to mimic natural teeth. In addition, many of the treatments that incorporate implants can be provided in a general practice setting giving the patient comfort and familiarity with the current general practice that they attend. We at Avenue Dental have the expertise and knowledge to discuss and ultimately treat and provide the patients with all their dental needs when it comes to missing one or more teeth.
Crown and Bridge
Teeth with extensive restorations and structural damage may require full coverage. Otherwise known as caps and crowns, the premise for their existence fully encompasses the remaining tooth structure and the filling, and helps to preserve the portion of the tooth that you see in the mouth, I.e the crown of the tooth.
Bridges can be offered to accommodate a missing tooth. For example, an orient has unfortunately lost a tooth in the past and has a space between the teeth. For aesthetic and functional reasons, a bridge can be provided to fill in the missing tooth. The treatment takes into account the adjacent teeth in either side of the space and as above have crowns placed in them. However the two crowns are joined together prior to placing the now bridge into the mouth.
To fabricate a crown, a tooth must first be prepared by removing a specified amount of tooth structure and / or the filling from the outside surface of the crown. Once that step is complete, an impression of the preparation is made and also of the opposing teeth and bite. Once that is gathered, the fabrication of the crown can begin. This process can take anywhere from days to weeks, depending on how involved the case is. In the meanwhile, the patient may have a temporary crown(s) placed in the tooth(teeth).
Once the crown(s) or bridge is ready, they are cemented to the remaining tooth structure. Before a patient is dismissed, aesthetics and function are confirmed with the patient as well as patient hygiene instructions are given for the best possible longevity of the new crown or bridge.
Many different materials can be used for crowns and bridges. Most commonly, these fixed restorations fall into tree categories: full metal, porcelain fused to metal or all ceramic. You and the treating doctor will discuss the most suitable material that will provide the best possible prognosis taking into account the aesthetics and durability through function.
