In the US alone, as many as 120 million people are missing at least one tooth. However, it’s one thing when there’s a gap in the back, and a whole other when you’re dealing with a missing front tooth. It can be a total confidence shaker, but thankfully, modern restorative dentistry offers a range of effective treatment options. From implants to dentures, let’s take a look at what can be done to get your smile back to its old glory.
Why Is It Important to Treat a Missing Front Tooth?
Ending with a missing front tooth can happen in a number of ways. Sometimes, it’s the result of a sports injury or an accidental fall, while other times it’s due to untreated decay, advanced gum disease, or even genetics.
No matter the exact cause, this gap in your smile can affect both appearance and confidence, but it also has undesirable effects on your oral health. If you don’t reserve an appointment with your Charlotte dentist in SouthPark and get treatment as soon as possible, you might experience the following:
- Teeth shifting,
- Difficulty while chewing and speaking,
- Changing facial features,
- Gum disease,
- Bone loss.
Your Restorative Dentist in Charlotte, NC, Will Find the Right Solution
Restorative dentistry is a specialized field of dentistry that focuses on treating decayed, damaged, or missing teeth and bringing them back to full function. Our practice of general dentistry in Charlotte, NC, offers a wide range of treatments for missing teeth.
With the help of our restorative dentist, you’ll be getting the best solution based on your individual needs and oral health. So, let’s take a look at the available treatments at Aspire Dental Wellness and explain what you can expect from each one.
Dental Implants Are a Sturdy Substitute for Missing Teeth
First off, dental implant services are often considered the gold standard in restorative dentistry. This special titanium post is surgically implanted into the jawbone. Once it completely bonds with the surrounding bone through a process known as osseointegration, it replaces a missing tooth root. This can be done for a single tooth or multiple missing teeth, but it’s not suitable for people with significant bone loss in the jaw. Of course, your Charlotte, NC, dentist will help determine if you’re the right candidate for implant surgery.
With implant restoration, you’ve covered the tooth root, but what about the tooth itself? Well, that’s where dental crowns come into the picture, attached to the implant with a special device called the abutment. This can’t be done before osseointegration is complete, so the whole process can take anywhere from a couple of months to a whole year.
What Are the Advantages of Getting Dental Implants?
Getting dental implants is one of the most reliable and natural-looking solutions for restoring your smile. Aside from having a 90% to 95% success rate for over 10 years, there are numerous benefits that come with this treatment:
- Implants look, feel, and function like real teeth,
- It’s a long-lasting solution that can last a lifetime with proper care,
- They provide strong biting power,
- The treatment helps prevent bone loss in the jaw,
- Requires less maintenance compared to other solutions.
Dental Bridges Also Offer an Effective Solution
When there’s not just one missing tooth but a couple of them, dental bridges are the right solution in many cases. Essentially, they are a fixed prosthesis made up of two or more crowns, and they get attached to the adjacent teeth or implants. These ending points are known as “abutment teeth”, while the middle segment is called the “pontic”.
This restorative treatment effectively bridges the gap made by several missing teeth, hence the name. It can be made of ceramics or a combination of ceramics and metal alloys. When it comes to the prosthetic device itself, there are several different types as well.
In most cases, the treatment consists of at least two visits: one for preparing the adjacent teeth and the other for fitting the bridge itself. As for maintenance, the usual oral hygiene routine will do just fine, with regular brushing and flossing, as well as routine dentist appointments.
Dentures Are a Viable Option in Some Cases
Last but not least, we’ve got dentures, which you probably already know about. The artificial teeth are usually made of porcelain or acrylic, while the base is either gum-colored resin or pink acrylic. Dentures are custom-made to fit your smile, and there are two main types – full and partial. The former replaces all the teeth in the upper or lower jaw, while the latter replaces just a couple of missing teeth.
So, just like bridges, dentures are not the right solution for just one missing front tooth. Rather, they are used to fill bigger gaps, and for this task, they are easier to adjust than fixed bridges. On top of that, they are usually more affordable than implant-supported solutions and don’t require surgery. As with all the other options, your Charlotte dentist in SouthPark can help you determine whether you’re a good candidate for dentures or not.
Transform Your Smile and Confidence With Aspire Dental Wellness
A missing front tooth can change the way you speak, eat, and feel about yourself. However, this doesn’t have to be permanent. With today’s advanced dental solutions, restoring your smile is easier and more natural-looking than ever before. That’s exactly what our team at Aspire Dental Wellness, led by the experienced Dr. Sladjana Bjelac, is best at. Contact us today to reserve your appointment, and let’s get you back to smiling proudly and confidently.
