Missing Teeth?
A missing back tooth can cause many problems. These problems include the reduction in the ability to chew efficiently on that side of your mouth. There is also a risk of the adjacent teeth drifting and moving into the missing tooth's space. This can have damaging effects on the stability of your bite and your other existing teeth in the long term.
At Silsoe Dental Clinic we offer our patients a number of options when it comes to replacing missing teeth.
Dentures
A denture is an appliance that is worn to replace lost or missing teeth to enable you to enjoy a healthy diet and smile with confidence.
A complete or full denture is one that replaces all of the natural teeth in either the upper or lower jaws. Tooth loss can drastically alter your appearance, giving you a sunken or 'more aged' look. A complete denture not only replaces the natural teeth but also helps to support the cheeks and lips.
A denture is made from hard-wearing material, either acrylic (plastic) and metal, that mimics the look of teeth and gums to give your mouth a natural appearance. Your denture will be made to fit snugly on your gums and you will be able to remove it for cleaning.
A partial denture fills in the spaces created by lost or missing teeth and is attached to your natural teeth with metal clasps or devices called precision attachments.
It is also possible to fit dentures onto dental implants, improving their stability and increasing your confidence.
Bridges
Bridges have the advantage of being 'fixed' in the mouth.
Having a ceramic bridge means that your teeth will look and feel like natural teeth giving you confidence in your smile, making sure that you can eat the foods that you like and partake in an active lifestyle without worrying about your teeth.
Only two visits to our clinic are required before your custom-made dental bridge is cemented into place allowing you to eat and bite down on it like normal teeth.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are tiny titanium screws (normally less than 1cm long) that are gently inserted into the jawbone to replace the root of a missing tooth.
The bone will grow directly onto the titanium surface and this super strong connection allows us to use implants predictably to support a replacement tooth crown, multiple crowns and even all your missing teeth.
The procedure is usually less painful than having a tooth removed. The implant is placed very carefully, and you only need a local anaesthetic to numb the surrounding area.
If you are slightly more anxious then the treatment can be carried out using conscious sedation. This is an extremely safe way of making you feel very relaxed during the treatment and afterwards you remember little of the procedure.
After the surgery. usually only simple painkillers are required for 1-2 days and most patients having a single implant placed are able to return to work the next day.