2020 has been a tough year. To ensure your dental health is off to a better start in the new year, consider your restorative dentistry options. If you are missing one or more teeth, your dental health is compromised. Your teeth were designed to work together while performing daily tasks such as chewing or speaking. Because missing teeth compromise the rest of your dental structures and add strain to your jawbone, we recommend pursuing tooth replacement options sooner rather than later. Learn more about the two primary tooth replacement options we recommend to patients with missing teeth:

Dental Bridges

Dental bridges are an affordable and effective tooth replacement option for patients missing one or more consecutive teeth. With dental bridges, a prosthetic tooth is supported by your surrounding teeth and held in the missing tooth’s place. This allows your smile to cosmetically restored without the need for a surgical procedure. Additionally, your dental bridge will give you back some of the functionality you’ve been missing because of your missing teeth. However, it’s important to note that dental bridges do require some lifestyle alterations. For example, we recommend avoiding excessively chewy or crunchy foods to prevent damage to the bridge hardware. Because the bridge hardware is all external, it will also be a prime spot in your mouth for food residue to get caught in. You will need to adapt your oral hygiene habits to include a thorough bridge cleaning every day. There are many types of dental bridges and Dr. Parnaik will help you make the best choice for your needs and goals.

Dental Implants

Dental implants are considered the patient-preferred method for tooth replacement. This is because implants have very high satisfaction ratings. With dental implants, you can permanently replace a missing tooth or several missing teeth. Involving a surgical procedure, the dental implant process includes a titanium post that fuses together with your jawbone. The titanium post will give your restoration the tooth-root functionality that you simply won’t get with a dental bridge. Once fully healed, the post is topped off with a dental crown attached to an abutment for a secure fit. When you smile, your dental implant will blend in seamlessly with your surrounding teeth, giving you the look, feel, and function of a completely natural smile. Routine visits to the dentist will ensure the long-term health and function of the dental implant.

Schedule Your Restorative Dentistry Consultation

Medford dentist Dr. Poorva Parnaik is an experienced restorative dentist. She will provide you with a thorough consultation to ensure you have all the information you need to make the best decision for your dental health. If you are looking to replace missing teeth in the new year, schedule an appointment online today. We look forward to seeing you soon.