When you have missing teeth, this could mean much more than just an embarrassing gap in your smile. Lack of treatment could lead to a prematurely aged appearance and issues with bite function. To avoid these complications, your Astoria, NY, dentist can offer tooth replacement with a variety of dental prosthetics.
What Causes Missing Teeth?
Our teeth could become lost as a result of an injury to the face or jaw, or possibly due to untreated cavities and infections. The most common factor is the advanced stage of gum disease, known as periodontitis, which destroys the tissues connecting the teeth and gums. When we lose our teeth, the body will suspend or divert the flow of calcium and phosphates to the jaw. Being denied these nutrients causes the bone tissue around the missing root to break down, leading to a prematurely aged appearance and further tooth loss. Missing teeth also cause surrounding teeth to shift from position, the resulting misalignment altering smile beauty and increasing the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. There could also be trouble eating and speaking clearly, and the risk of TMJ disorder and bruxism (teeth grinding) increases due to the changes in bite balance.
Choosing the Right Prosthetic
To avoid these complications and continue to enjoy a beautiful smile that functions properly, you need to seek tooth replacement. To begin, we will examine your smile with advanced digital imaging so we can assess the cause and extent of your tooth loss. We may also need to treat underlying issues or manage them, especially if you have gum disease. From there, our team will choose the best prosthetic to address your tooth loss and restore function to your smile. The option we select will be custom-made to ensure proper fit and bite balance, and a lifelike appearance as well. We want you to feel proud to smile again!
Possible Solutions
For minor cases, we could create and secure a dental bridge. Made from ceramic, this will blend with the smile seamlessly and address one to three missing teeth in a row. For more complicated cases, we could craft a partial denture that is held in place with special clasps, or a full set that replaces every tooth on one or both arches. Dental implants can be used to replace individual missing teeth, and also strengthen the jawbone to prevent loss of mass and density, allowing them to last much longer than other options. We can use them to support a prosthetic such as a bridge or denture too!
Your Astoria, NY, Dentist Offers Tooth Replacement
Our team is eager to ensure you continue to enjoy a complete smile! To learn more about our replacements for missing teeth, then schedule a consultation by calling Jeffrey Leibowitz, DDS, in Astoria, NY, today at 718-728-8320.
