Missing teeth can change a lot about how you live life. Including the ability to enjoy foods you love, how you speak and smile, and over time, the way you look. Gaps left by missing teeth can lead to deterioration of the jawbone, which can make your face appear sunken.
Tooth loss is common, affecting millions of people in the United States. The good news is that restorative dentistry offers several tooth-replacement treatment options, including permanent, natural-looking options like dental implants and dental bridges, and removable options like partial dentures.
Continue reading to learn which restorative dental treatments from the best dentist in North Scottsdale are the best ones for you, based on how many teeth are missing, your lifestyle, and your gum and bone health.
Dental Implants: Permanent, Natural-Looking Treatment for One or More Missing Teeth
Dental implants are among the best restorative dentistry solutions for missing teeth because they are built to mimic a real tooth from the inside out, not just fill the gap. A dental implant acts like a replacement tooth root that is surgically placed in the jaw and supports a permanent dental crown, allowing the final result to look, feel, and chew like a natural tooth.
The root support that dental implants provide prevents the jawbone in that area from shrinking over time. Though dental implants are a great choice for most people, they are not the best choice for everyone. You need to have sufficient bone density and healthy gums, free of gum disease, to be a good candidate for dental implants. If you’re not a good candidate right now, getting a bone graft or gum disease treatment can help get you there.
Dental Implants vs. Dental Bridges: What’s the Difference?
A dental bridge is often used when just one or two teeth are missing. It works by anchoring a replacement tooth to the teeth next door. Those neighboring teeth usually need to be shaped down so crowns can fit over them, like sanding two puzzle pieces so the middle piece can lock in. This often makes a bridge a faster and less invasive option compared to dental implants. That tradeoff can be worth it in the right situation, but it also means you are relying on the supporting teeth for strength over time. This can lead to your other teeth wearing down a little faster than they normally would. Additionally, you’ll be losing bone density because there is no tooth root or implant stimulating the bone.
Dentures: A Non-Surgical Restorative Dentistry Option
If you prefer a non-surgical way to replace missing teeth, a dental bridge or removable partial dentures are two great options. A partial denture can restore the look of a full smile and help with speech if certain words sound whistly or harder to pronounce, since air and tongue placement change when teeth are missing.
It’s important to understand about dentures is that the comfort and stability of dentures can vary, especially when you are chewing. Some people notice slight movement when they bite into something sticky or crunchy, especially months or years after getting it. That is not your fault. It is simply what happens over time when your mouth naturally changes. Gum disease and losing bone density are the most common reasons for changes in the way your dentures fit.
Replacing Multiple Missing Teeth with Full Mouth Reconstruction
When you’re deciding between a dental implant and a dental bridge, most people are trying to answer one simple question: which one will look natural and hold up when chewing your favorite foods? When you are missing several teeth or an entire arch of teeth, full dentures or all-on-4 dental implants are two good options. All-on-4 dental implants use four dental implants as sturdy anchors in the jaw to support a full arch of permanent crowns.
Replacing a full arch of teeth sounds scary. Most people are concerned about how long the recovery can be. The good news is that healing happens faster than you think. If you have severely decayed teeth that need to be removed and replaced, you’ll need a tooth extraction first. During this appointment, local anesthesia and dental sedation will keep you comfortable. After extraction, it’s common to have some swelling and tenderness in the gums or jaw for a few days. Most people start with softer foods and slowly work back toward a normal diet over several days.
Can I get Dental Implants Years After Losing a Tooth?
When a tooth has been missing for a long time, the jaw in that area can lose bone density because it is not getting the normal stimulation from chewing. That can sound discouraging, but it does not automatically rule dental implants out. With 3D dental imaging, the best dentist in North Scottsdale can assess your bone density and recommend if a bone graft is necessary.
Finding the Best Dentist in North Scottsdale for Replacing Missing Teeth
Dr. Bisbing offers a patient-first approach to restorative dentistry with a careful eye for both strength and appearance. Patients across Scottsdale trust Dr. Cole Bisbing for precision skills that create natural-looking teeth that blend with your smile and hold up when you chew your favorite foods.
At Kallos Dental Aesthetics, you can expect a luxury experience with a spa-like dental clinic, modern dental technology, and a staff that makes you feel like you’re right at home. Our work focuses on the small details, like a bite that closes smoothly, edges that don’t feel sharp to your tongue, and restorations that match the color and shape of the teeth next to them.
Ready to rebuild a worn tooth, replace old dental work, or restore your smile with help from the best dentist in North Scottsdale?
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