If you’ve lost one or more teeth, Dr. Cassleman of St. Clair Tooth Co. is here to help. She offers a compassionate, communicative approach to tooth replacement, and she will go over all of your options to help you decide on the right treatment for you. Not sure where to start? Here are a few things to consider if you are suffering from tooth loss:
If you have lost a tooth, it’s important to get help as soon as you can from a St. Clair Shores dentist and replace your missing tooth. When you lose a tooth, your surrounding teeth will naturally shift toward the now-empty socket, which can ruin your bite and cause crooked teeth.
In addition, you will begin to lose jaw bone below your missing tooth since it’s no longer being stimulated by the pressure and force of chewing and biting. If you wait too long, tooth loss can cause your jaw to become too weak to get treatment with a dental implant.
Partial dentures are made of plastic and metal and can be used to treat a single missing tooth or multiple adjacent missing teeth. They attach to your remaining healthy teeth using metal clips, and they are a good choice if you’re only missing a few teeth. Partial dentures are very flexible, affordable, and can be built in just a few weeks, allowing you to restore your smile quickly. For some patients, partial dentures are an effective option for treating tooth loss.
Dental bridges are made of two dental crowns, which suspend a false tooth (pontic) where your missing tooth used to be. This literally “bridges” the gap left behind by your missing tooth. Dental bridges are durable and will not move or shift while you eat and speak and they never need to be removed. They are also relatively affordable and are usually covered by dental insurance. However, they don’t last quite as long as dental implants.
Dental implants are made of a screw-shaped piece of titanium which is surgically implanted into the socket where your missing tooth used to be. Then, a dental crown is attached to this implant, which functions as an artificial tooth root.
Dental implants last 30+ years with proper care. They do not require any special maintenance and help support the strength of your jaw bone. Not only that, but they look and feel completely natural, and they are indistinguishable from natural teeth. In most cases where the jaw bone is strong enough, dental implants are the best treatment option for tooth loss.
At St. Clair Tooth Co., Dr. Cassleman can help you explore each one of the above treatment options. Depending on your budget, your oral health, and your personal preferences, any of these methods of tooth restoration may be right for you. To learn more about our tooth loss options for patients, contact us at (586) 404-4911 to schedule an appointment, or come to our office at 21321 Harper Ave, St. Clair Shores, MI 48080 to make your appointment in person.
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