​​Treatment Options for  No Teeth and Missing Teeth

Having no teeth can be a serious problem. Losing even a single tooth can significantly impact one’s smile, oral health and quality of life. People with no teeth not only do daily activities like eating and speaking become difficult, but facial aesthetics are also affected negatively. That is why our dentists at Museum Dental Center recommend getting your missing dentition replaced as soon as they are lost or extracted. 

At the Museum Dental Center, we offer various replacement options for people with no teeth to restore their smile, function, and over all your confidence. However, before discussing these options, Dr. Khalifeh thinks that it is essential to understand why replacing your lost dentition is necessary. Dr. Khalifeh, also will let you know what might happen if you don’t replace them quickly. 

What Happens When You Don’t Replace Missing Teeth?

Missing teeth affect more than just your smile. Here is what can happen when they are not replaced:

1. Teeth Shifting 

When a tooth is lost, the neighboring teeth start to creep into the gap. As a result, gaps begin to appear between the remaining teeth. On the one hand, this causes the bite to become crooked and misaligned. Also, these gaps are potential sites for food trap and can lead to gum inflammation. Besides, these gaps may further affect your facial esthetics and your smile. 

2. Further Tooth Loss 

When you close your mouth, the upper and lower teeth contact each other. This allows us to chew food and prevent indigestion. At the same time, this allows preventing the overgrowth of the opposing teeth. However, once a tooth is lost, the opposing tooth starts to move into the missing tooth space. That is why we commonly see people with missing teeth having elongated opposing teeth.

In one hand this may constitute a cosmetic issue due to uneven growth. However, this can also make the teeth loose due to less support from the jawbone and gum tissue. Ultimately, these teeth may fall off unless the opposing missing tooth is replaced timely. 

3. Facial Structural Changes 

After losing a tooth, the surrounding bone starts to degrade rapidly. According to the American College of Prosthodontists, the longer you wait to replace missing teeth, the greater bone loss you get.

Dr. Khalifeh says, over time, missing teeth can significantly affect one’s facial profile, smile and over all appearance. Having jawbone loss will also pulls the facial muscles and tissues along with it. As a result, the face appears collapsed and wrinkled – making one look older than they are. 

4. Jawbone Loss

Prolonged tooth loss may cause excessive bone loss, making it difficult for your dentist to replace them with implants. However, no need to worry; Dr. Khalifeh will rebuild the lost bone tissue with additional procedures like bone grafts, sinus lift, and ridge augmentation. 

What Are My Options For Replacing Missing Teeth?

Whether you have lost a single or all your teeth, Dr. Khalifeh will help you get your smile and self-esteem back by replacing them with durable and esthetically pleasant artificial teeth. According to the American Dental Association, people have three most commonly used options for replacing missing teeth are: removable dentures, dental bridges, and dental implants. 

You may ask, “With all these options, how will I know which option is best for me?” No need to worry; in the following sections, we will compare different tooth replacement options available so that you can make an informed decision after a consultation with Dr. Khalifeh. 

• Removable Dentures 

Removable dentures are the most cost-effective and time-tested options for tooth replacement. These are removable appliances that get their support from the adjacent healthy dentition and the underlying jawbone. There are two types of removable dentures, depending on the number of teeth they replace:

• Partial Dentures – the base of these dentures are made from acrylic resins or metal alloys, while the artificial teeth are made from resin or porcelain. Partial dentures have metallic extensions called clasps, which engage the supporting teeth and prevent them from moving or slipping. We sometimes use flexible resin without metal clasps in the esthetics zone. 
• Complete Dentures – these dentures are used people with no teeth left in the mouth. The base of these dentures is made from pink-colored resins (to mimic gum color), and the artificial teeth are made from resin or Porcelain. 

What are the Benefits of Removable Dentures?

The following are some of the benefits of using removable dentures: 

1. They are cost-effectiveness. 
2. They are easy of fabrication – most dentists can replace missing teeth with dentures .
3. Removable dentures can be easily repaired.

What are the Drawbacks of Removable Dentures?

Although removable dentures are good options to restore people with missing teeth smiles. Removable dentures do have several drawbacks that make them less favored tooth replacement option:

1. Removable dentures are not stable. They do not allow the same eating and speech efficiency as teeth bridges and dental implants. 
2. Dentures tend to break easily or get lost. 
3. They are uncomfortable for most patients. 
4. Some patients could get denture-related oral fungal infections. 
5. Prolonged denture use leads to considerable jawbone loss, leading to undesirable facial structural changes. Besides, tooth replacement with dental implants in the future becomes more challenging.
6. Dentures usually get stained easily, causing esthetic issues

• Dental Bridges 

Teeth Bridges are fixed to your natural teeth. A dental bridge gets its retention and support from the adjacent healthy dentition. 

First, your dentist will prepare the supporting teeth on either side for the attachment of the bridge. Next, he will make an impression or a digital scan and send them to the laboratory for fabrication. At the final appointment, the fixed bridge will be bonded or cemented to your teeth. 

What are the Advantages of Dental Bridges?

Dental bridges offer several benefits over the removable dentures:

1. They improved chewing and speech efficiency because bridges remain fixed.
2. Teeth badges look better than the first choice. 
3. They are more durable than removable dentures. With proper care, dental bridges can last for up to 7-10 years or more.
4. Dental bridges cost less than implants.

What are the Disadvantages of Dental Bridges?

There are some drawbacks of dental bridges as well:

1. Fixed bridges require cutting healthy tooth structure.
2. They may damage the supporting teeth. 
3. They require extra home care effort to keep them clean.

• Dental Implants 

Dental implants are by far the most durable and functionally superior option for people who want to replace their missing teeth. An implant is a screw like device made from Titanium alloy or Zirconia inserted into the jawbone. Implants functions as a root replacement. After implant insertion, the jawbone starts building around the implant. 

Dental implants are generally carried out in different phases. In the first phase, Dr. Khalifeh will insert the implant and place a healing cap over it. You will be asked to wait for 4-6 months for the implant site to heal. However, in some cases, you won’t go without your teeth during this time. Dr. Khalifeh will place a temporary restoration over the implant during the healing process.

Once complete healing has taken place, Dr. Khalifeh will place a permanent restoration over the implant that look and function exactly as your lost natural tooth.

What are the Advantages of Implants?

Advantages of dental implants include:

1. Excellent durability – according to the American Dental Association, dental implants can last for a lifetime if you look after them. Besides, dental implants have a 10-year success rate of more than 95%. 
2. Convenience – Dental implants are connected to the bone like natural teeth, they allow you to eat and drink all your favorite foods without difficulty. 
3. No bone loss – unlike the removable dentures, dental implant maintain your jaw bone. 
4. Tooth Conservation – unlike fixed dental bridges which require removing healthy tooth structure of the supporting dentition, dental implants are placed directly into the bone. Hence, they are more friendly. 
5. Esthetics – dental implant offer natural looking tooth replacement options. 

Dental implants should be at the top of your list if you are looking for a long-lasting, comfortable, and esthetically pleasing option for replacing your missing teeth. At Museum Dental Center, we will carefully examine your mouth and overall health status to offer tooth replacement options that are best for you. Call Dr. Khalifeh today to discuss your lost dentition replacement options and start planning for the smile of you deserve.

What are the Disadvantages of Dental Implants?

1. Higher initial cost.
2. Require multiple surgeries.
3. You need to find a well trained dental implants specialist to get the best results.