There are several methods of replacing multiple missing teeth. You could have a removable partial denture made, you could have a tooth-supported fixed bridge placed, or you could have dental implants. All of these options have their place, but for many patients, implants are the superior replacement option when you’re missing multiple teeth. The following are some things you should know about replacing multiple teeth with implants.
How Are Multiple Implants Placed?
You won’t need an implant for every single tooth. A few implants can hold adjoining teeth in place.
The procedure for placing multiple implants is similar to that of placing one implant. You don’t necessarily need one implant for each missing tooth — just a few implants can hold multiple teeth in place. Four implants can be enough to hold an entire upper or lower teeth.
Your dentist will rst install titanium rods. These will replace some of the missing tooth roots. Later, the dentist will install crowns over the rods to replace the teeth. For example, if you’re having three teeth in a row replaced, your dentist would place two titanium implants, with a gap in between. Then, crowns would be placed over the two implants, with a false tooth in-between, supported by the implants.
Sometimes, the titanium rods are placed in one appointment, and the crowns are placed in a second appointment after your mouth has had some time to heal from the first procedure. However, there are implants that can be placed all in the same day. Your dentist will let you know if you’re a candidate for same-day implants.
Why Are Implants A Better Option?
Only your dentist will be able to tell that you have implants — to casual observers, they’ll look like your natural teeth.
There are a couple of reasons implants are a better tooth-replacement option than dentures or a tooth-supported bridge. The feel, look, and function of dental implants is the closest you can get to natural teeth. You’ll have roughly the same amount of bite power with your implants that you had with your natural teeth, and no one looking at your smile will be able to tell the difference between the implants and your natural teeth.
Dentures can slip or move in your mouth, and tooth-supported bridges may damage the adjacent teeth that they’re attached to, leading to more dental work down the road. Neither a bridge nor a denture will restore your bite power as well as implants will — you’ll have more difficulty chewing your favorite foods.
Most importantly, dental implants can help prevent bone loss in your jaw. The titanium rods do the work that your tooth roots used to do, stimulating the bone to encourage growth. Both bridges and dentures sit on top of the gum, with no root replacement, so they can’t stimulate the jaw bone. Without stimulation, you’ll experience bone loss that can cause cosmetic, dental, and physical health problems.
What About The Cost?
Don’t write o implants because of the cost. While implants may be more expensive in the short-term, dentures and bridges will most likely need repair and replacement down the road, while properly cared for dental implants can last for the rest of your life. That makes implants a more cost-effective option in the long run.
Only your dentist can tell you if you’re a candidate for dental implants. If you have missing teeth, contact us to request information about tooth replacement.
