If you have lost several teeth there are typically two solutions available to you: Separate crowns on dental implants or a bridge attached to two or more dental implants.
Not every missing tooth needs to have an implant beneath it, A bridge can be fitted to a single implant on which two or more crowns are placed , therefore replacing adjoining teeth.
If you are missing multiple teeth the option for multiple dental implants is available to restore your smile.
There are several options available to restore multiple missing or damaged teeth, but none come close to the benefits of teeth implants. Thanks to the advancements in dental technology, teeth implants are widely considered as the best solution for the restoration of any number of damaged or missing teeth. Not only do dental implants have the cosmetic benefit of having a natural look, they also are much more durable and comfortable than any other form of restorative dentistry.
The importance of replacing multiple missing back teeth (your molar teeth) cannot be under-stated. If you are missing front teeth there is an obvious motivation to consider dental implants as they will restore your smile.
Molars are the large multi-rooted teeth at the back of your mouth. Being designed to do the hard work of chewing your food, they are the power-houses of your bite. When molar teeth have been lost, all of your chewing workload gets transferred to the single-rooted teeth at the front of your mouth. These front teeth are simply not designed to grind and crunch food in the way your molar teeth are, and these excess stresses on your front teeth can cause damage in the longer term.
Teeth that are supported using multiple tooth implants have the same chewing and biting power that natural teeth do. Grinding down of the existing teeth is not required to place an implant bridge. Multiple tooth implants can support many restorations and can function and look like natural teeth. It is hard to tell the difference between implants and natural teeth.
Implants can help to maintain the jaw size and shape by preventing bone loss. Chewing places pressure on the implants, and this stimulates the bone and prevents the body from reabsorbing it. Furthermore, implants can keep the nearby teeth in place. No adhesives are needed for this. With dentures, there might be a palate, but this can prevent patients from tasting correctly.
If you are missing a number of teeth, they may either be replaced with individual implants (one for each missing tooth), or if they are adjacent, by joining two or more implants together. This latter option can make implant treatment more affordable when patients are missing many teeth.
When a number of teeth are missing, which might occur if a previous crown and bridgework has failed or remove comma if somebody has been involved in a serious accident, dental implants can be used to support a number of teeth. When these teeth are linked together it is called a bridge. If a large number of teeth have been lost at the same time it may be necessary to carry out a bone graft, to develop the site where a dental implant might later be placed.
Dental Implants can be a costly treatment due to the materials used, training needed, and machinery involved in such a complex treatment. However, everyone’s mouth and circumstances are unique and so placing a set cost on a treatment is difficult without first understanding the patient.
Our staff are highly trained and knowledgeable about the latest available techniques and treatments. For an overview of expected costs please see our Fee Guide. Your dentist will provide a detailed personalised treatment plan with your specific costs after your initial consultation.
Bridges have been used to replace adjacent missing teeth for many years. But to attach a traditional bridge, the nearby teeth need to be ground down. That can weaken the nearby teeth, causing decay after a while. Or it could cause fractures.
Furthermore, a bridge may not last for as long as multiple tooth implants, often only lasting for. about a decade before needing replacement. The patient may end up spending more money on replacements for bridges than getting implants. Implants can last for a lifetime with good care.
With implants, no teeth nearby need to be ground down. The bridges allow patients to chew and bite with enough pressure to correctly chew the food. This allows patients to eat more nutritious foods. As a result, patients gain better overall health.
