4 Dental Implant Alternatives
Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that a skilled dental professional inserts directly into the jaw bone. They can support custom dental restorations, like a dental crown, bridge, or dentures, to replace missing teeth and restore optimal oral function.
A a long-lasting and durable tooth-replacement option, dental implants require oral surgery. However, oral surgery is not an option for every patient, budget, or lifestyle. At Family Dental Care in Flowood, MS, we believe that every patient deserves less-invasive alternatives to replace missing teeth. Here, our team will explore four conservative dental implant alternatives to restore your smile, oral function, and confidence.
Dental Bridges
According to the American College of Prosthodontists, roughly 120 million Americans are missing at least one tooth. For patients missing one or more teeth, dental bridges are a great option to fill in one or more gaps.
While implant-supported bridges offer spectacular stability, patients at our Flowood office may find similar security with removable or permanent bridges.
Removable Dental Bridges
As the name implies, patients can easily attach and detach removable dental bridges. With the help of surrounding teeth and sturdy clasps, these appliances make chewing, speaking, and smiling a breeze. The major appeal of removable bridges is that they usually do not require our team to alter surrounding teeth to accommodate the appliance.
Permanent Dental Bridges
Permanent dental bridges are a long-lasting and stable tooth-replacement option. Similar to removable bridges, permanent bridges employ the help of adjacent teeth to secure the appliance.
However, rather than clasps, permanent bridges use dental crowns on surrounding teeth to keep the appliance securely in place. This means that our team must remove some tooth enamel from adjacent teeth before permanently placing the bridge.
Dentures
Patients with significant tooth loss may benefit more from dentures than dental bridges. While implant-supported dentures are a viable option for most patients, some patients may prefer removable appliances, like full or partial dentures.
Full Dentures
Complete edentulism affects over 36 million Americans. Patients with total tooth loss may struggle to eat and speak, but full dentures fully restore their oral function.
Not only do full dentures improve patients’ quality of life by helping them eat and speak, but they also fill out the sagging skin and puckered lips caused by tooth loss. Subsequently, full dentures give patients a more youthful smile that elevates their appearance and boosts their confidence.
Partial Dentures
Patients who are missing most, but not all, of their teeth may be ideal candidates for partial dentures. These removable appliances use neighboring teeth and strong clasps to keep them firmly in place.
Discuss Dental Implant Alternatives With Our Dentist
Our Flowood dental team is proud to give you a variety of tooth-replacement options that fit your aesthetic, finances, and lifestyle. If you’re ready to discuss dental implants or dental implant alternatives, then contact Family Dental Care today.
You deserve to feel wholly confident in your smile. Getting started with our team is easy–simply request an appointment online here, or call our caring team at 601-936-2526.
