Replacing missing teeth
Stonehouse Dental Care offers various restorative options for patients who have lost one, or several of their teeth. Missing teeth can cause many specific dental problems, as well as issues with speech and eating. Tooth loss may even affect the structure of the face if not replaced, leading to loss of facial support and a premature ageing effect.
Our tooth restoration options will help to restore the functionality of your mouth and create a great smile too!
The main options for replacing missing teeth are;
- Dentures
- Bridges
- Dental Implants
What is a denture?
Dentures are removable prostheses which can be used to restore small or large gaps caused by missing teeth. A full denture is used to replace a complete arch of lost teeth, whereas a partial denture replaces one or several missing teeth.
A denture is a removable option, which means you are able the remove the denture for hygiene purposes or sleeping, before placing it back into your mouth.
Typical materials used for dentures are acrylic (pink plastic) and cobalt-chrome (metal).
What are Flexible Dentures?
Flexible dentures are a type of partial denture constructed of thin thermoplastic or nylon.
As the name suggests, this type of denture is thinner and softer than traditional dentures, and are often found to be a more comfortable alternative.
Combining excellent aesthetics with great adaptation to your teeth and gums, flexible dentures often provide a very tight fit and will typically not require any clasp to hold them in place.
What are dental bridges?
At Stonehouse Dental Care as part of the comprehensive range of treatments we are able to provide, our dentists may be able to close — or bridge — the gaps in your smile caused by missing teeth with dental bridges.
A dental bridge is a false ceramic tooth (called a pontic) that is held in place by the adjacent teeth on either side or one side of a gap.
A conventional dental bridge will usually involve a false tooth or teeth being held in place by crowns (retainers) which are cemented over the supporting teeth either side of a gap.
(Conventional cantilever bridges only involve one supporting tooth)
An Adhesive or Maryland bridge involves a false tooth that is held in placed by a metal wing, which is bonded to the inside surface of an adjacent tooth.
Unlike dentures, dental bridges are fixed and non-removable. As such, they may feel more comfortable or natural in your mouth
Bridges are also very aesthetic and can be made to blend in perfectly with your smile!
What are dental implants?
Dental Implants are titanium posts which are inserted into the jaw bone and in essence act like an artificial replacement for a natural tooth & root. Over time they integrate with your own bone and fuse to the body. This provides a secure base to support dental crowns, bridgeworks or dentures, without the need to involve any adjacent natural teeth, and provide a highly effective and potentially long-lasting solution to replace missing teeth.
Dental Implants are currently not provided in-house at stonehouse dental care. However, if you are interested in dental implants, our dentists will be able to offer you advice or refer you onward to specialists who we work closely with.
How do I decide which teeth replacement option is best for me?
If you are embarrassed by gaps in your teeth or are fed up with uncomfortable dentures, now is the time to act. To get professional help for your tooth loss problem, simply call our team on 01698 793636 and we’ll be very pleased to book you in for a free consultation.