Dental Implants, Bridges or Dentures?
Missing teeth can be replaced with dental implants, bridges or dentures. Each option has its pro's and cons, depending on the health of your teeth and your budget.
Dr. Schuetz has a post-graduate specialty degree in Prosthodontics. A prosthodontist designs, constructs and fits replacement teeth such as restorations for dental implants, crowns, bridges and dentures.
With over 35 years of experience in dentistry, including specialist training in prosthodontics, the branch of dentistry specializing in tooth restoration and replacements, Dr. Schuetz will evaluate your teeth and gums and help you choose the best option for you.
Dr. Schuetz has been placing Dental Implants since they become available as a treatment option over 20 years ago, and has been providing dentures and bridges for patients throughout his 35-year career.
No matter which solution you ultimately choose to restore your teeth, Dr. Schuetz will give you the highest-quality treatment and materials available.
Your options for tooth replacement
Dental Implants: A dental implant is a tooth that feels and functions like a natural tooth. It is a permanent fixture of titanium posts anchored to the jawbone and topped with individual replacement teeth or a bridge that screws or cements into the posts. Read more about Dental Implants here.
Bridges: A bridge is a dental restoration that spans an area that has no teeth and is connected to natural teeth at each end. A typical bridge consists of a pontic (a filler tooth) that is attached to two surrounding abutments (crowns). After completion, this bridge structure is then bonded into the mouth.
Dentures: Dentures, partial or complete, replace either the bottom arch or the top arch of your mouth. Read more about Dentures here.
Links
Advantages of Dental Implants over Bridges
Advantages of Bridges over Dental Implants
Advantages of Dental Implants over Dentures
Why Dr. Schuetz recommends Dental Implants
Are You a Candidate for Dental Implants?
Advantages of Dental Implants over Bridges
- Your mouth will be restored as closely as possible to its natural state
- Deter further tooth loss. When a bridge "goes bad", it usually means the loss of one or more teeth that support the bridge
- Don't need to cut down adjacent teeth to fit the Bridge over them.
The above middle tooth is an implant.
The two middle teeth are implants.
This patient received two single implants:
After
Advantages of Bridges over Dental Implants
- Dental Implants can take longer to place. From extraction to healing to implant placement, it can be several months before you get a functional crown.
- Dental implants involve surgery.
- The initial cost of an implant will be higher than that of a fixed bridge.
Advantages of Dental Implants over Dentures
- Your mouth will be restored as closely as possible to its natural state.
- Implants are permanently fixed and won't loosen.
- Keeps you looking younger by preventing shrinkage of jawbone.
- Deter further bone loss.
- No adhesives.
- Allow you to eat all foods.
Lower dentures with implants
Full dentures supported by implants
This patient received a combination of implants and dentures, which is a preferable alternative to dentures alone.
Why Dr. Schuetz recommends Dental Implants
Dr. Schuetz has been placing Dental Implants over 20 years. He can personally attest to the long-term value of dental implants as a treatment option. While not everyone is a candidate for dental implants, Dr. Schuetz strongly advises implants where possible.
Removable dentures are not the perfect solution for missing teeth because they do not function as well as dental implants, and they often bring with them a number of other problems.
Removable dentures may slip or cause embarrassing clicking sounds while eating or speaking. Removable dentures may lead to bone loss in the area where the tooth or teeth are missing.
Are you a candidate for dental implants?
The ideal candidate for a dental implant is in good general and oral health. Adequate bone in your jaw is needed to support the implant. Some people who have lost bone in their jaw can still get implants, but the bone must first be rebuilt using special bone-grafting procedures.
If your bone structure is adequate and bone-grafting is not required, the permanent dental implant, post and tooth restoration can be placed in one visit.
People who are currently wearing partial or full dentures can replace these with dental implants, or use implants to stabilize and secure the denture, making it much more comfortable.
No-Charge Private Consultation
Call to schedule a no-obligation, private consultation to see what solution would work best for your missing teeth or teeth needing extraction. Call 888.379.9058 to schedule an examination and discuss your options. Or click here to schedule online.
