People sometimes assume that dental implants only replace a single missing tooth at a time. However, when we see patients in Newhall, CA, with multiple missing teeth, we may secure a prosthetic with implant dentistry, offering a secure and lifelike solution to tooth loss. How do we create and place these fixed dentures, and what benefits will they offer?
The Health Risks of Tooth Loss
When we lose our natural teeth, we don’t just struggle with the negative changes to our smile’s appearance. Tooth loss could cause misalignment, as surrounding teeth drift from position. Tooth decay and gum disease may become more likely due to these oral health issues. For others, missing teeth mean strain on the jaw joints and a higher likelihood of TMJ disorder and bruxism developing. Not to mention, more advanced cases of tooth loss could mean trouble eating, limiting what you can enjoy during meals. You may also have trouble speaking clearly. Finally, the body will take note of your missing teeth and suspend the flow of calcium and phosphorus to the jawbone. Without these nutrients, the bone tissue begins to break down around the missing tooth, causing loss of jawbone density. Over time, loss of jawbone density could mean further tooth loss and an aged appearance!
Guided Implant Placement
If you’ve lost only a small number of natural teeth, we may be able to help with single tooth dental implants or implant-secured bridges. But what if you’ve lost all, or a majority, of your teeth? In address advanced tooth loss, we may place between six and eight dental implants per arch. We place them using advanced CT scanning technology, which helps use choose the optimal placement area and guide implant placement. Once inserted into the jawbone, the dental implant will bond with the jawbone through a process known as osseointegration. At this point, they act as new tooth roots, which stimulates the growth of jawbone tissue and prevents an aged appearance. We then attach the dentures.
Creating Your Dentures
We will custom-make the dentures based on detailed digital impressions and measurements we’ve taken of your smile. We create them using lifelike materials, with an acrylic base that mimics the appearance of gum issue, and lifelike teeth created using ceramic. Since they’re fixed in place, they will never slip when you eat or speak, and you don’t need to remove them for soaking or cleaning. If you have any questions, then please contact our team today.
Have You Lost Natural Teeth?
If tooth loss is causing issues for your smile’s health and appearance, then talk to our team about implant-secured prosthetics. To learn more about our implant dentistry and dentures, schedule a consultation by calling Newhall Dental Arts in Newhall, CA, today at (661) 259-7760.