Tooth loss is a serious dental heath issue that affects millions of people in the United States. In fact, even the loss of a single tooth can lead to serious negative consequences for your oral health. To ensure continued health and stability, you should seek a replacement for your missing teeth. A number of dental prostheses are available to return your smile to optimal health and beauty.
Common Questions About Restoring Missing Teeth
Question: What are the health risks of tooth loss?
Answer: When you lose a tooth, often the surrounding teeth may drift towards the empty space in your smile. As misalignment develops, thorough brushing and flossing becomes difficult, increasing the risk of developing tooth decay or periodontal disease. Misalignment can also place stress on the jaw joints, often leading to the onset of TMJ disorder or bruxism (teeth grinding/clenching).
Question: Who qualifies for dentures?
Answer: We recommend a full set of dentures for patients with most or all of their teeth missing on one or both arches. We also offer partial dentures, which replace multiple missing teeth scattered across an arch. This option helps patients with advanced tooth loss that doesn’t yet require full dentures.
Question: How do dental bridges work?
Answer: A bridge is a dental prosthesis that restores one or more lost teeth in a row. A set of artificial teeth is created, which will be anchored into place with dental crowns. This is a fixed option, unlike dentures, which can be removed for cleaning.
Question: Do dental implants really last a lifetime?
Answer: Dental implants are inserted directly into the jawbone, where they are secured like a natural tooth. With proper care, they have been known to last for up to 25 years. In some cases, they have lasted even longer. Many patients prefer implants due to their stability and lifelike appearance.
About Your Astoria Dentist
Our Astoria, NY dentist office accepts most major insurance plans. To find out if we accept yours, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jeffrey Leibowitz, contact us at (718) 728-8328. We welcome patients living in and around Queens, Astoria, NYC, upstate New York, and New Jersey.
