Have you lost a tooth due to injury, decay, or accident? Are you noticing chips, cracks, or other signs of wear on otherwise healthy teeth? You’ll be amazed at the advanced tooth replacement and repair options available to you today.
In this post, we’ll review our most popular and effective restorative treatment options and talk to you about why repairing missing or damaged teeth is critical to your whole body health.
The lifelong effects of missing and damaged teeth
Ignoring a problem doesn’t make it go away. In the case of missing and damaged teeth, failing to fix the situation can be costly to both your dental health and overall wellness.
Let’s look at the case of a missing tooth. When a tooth is lost, here’s what happens:
• The jaw bone beneath the missing tooth will begin to dissolve, an irreversible process known as resorption
• Neighboring teeth may begin to shift and reposition themselves
• Brushing and flossing may become difficult, increasing your risk of decay and gum disease
• Eating and speaking may become difficult or uncomfortable
• You may become self-conscious about your appearance
Over time, if left untreated, these symptoms will only become more severe.
What about a seemingly less-serious issue like a small cavity, or visible chip or crack? Your mouth will be more susceptible to advanced decay and gum disease. Your teeth may be weaker, leading to unexpected fractures and splits requiring more advanced restorations.
And let’s not forget about the whole body systemic effects of gum disease and decay. Bacteria enter the body through the mouth and travel throughout the body. Research shows untreated gum disease can contribute to:
• Heart disease and heart attacks
• Diabetes and diabetic complications
• High blood pressure and stroke
• Many other chronic and even life-threatening health issues
Implants
Dental implants are truly amazing. Implants are the gold standard for permanently replacing missing teeth or teeth that are too decayed or damaged to be repaired. Dental implants are custom designed to look just like your natural teeth and are durable enough to last a lifetime.
Implants work just like natural teeth and can be brushed and flossed. Best of all they prevent resorption (bone loss) and the “sunken” facial appearance caused over time by lost teeth. Made from biocompatible titanium your implants actually strengthen your jaw bone.
Crowns
Most commonly used as the final restoration after a root canal or dental implant, crowns are an excellent way to repair a damaged tooth. Crowns can be made from porcelain, gold, zirconia, or even a mixture of these materials.
When repairing a damaged tooth using a crown, your dentist begins by shaping the tooth to create a secure base for the crown and to ensure a perfect fit. When a crown is placed atop an implant a post (known as an abutment) serves as the anchor point between the implant and the crown.
Bridges
When you lose a tooth, the neighboring teeth are likely to shift into the space left behind. This can lead to TMJ-related headaches, problems with your bite, difficulty brushing and flossing, decay, and even gum disease.
In some cases, your dentist may recommend a bridge to “bridge” the gap between your otherwise healthy teeth. Bridges help protect healthy teeth and prevent long term damage to your smile and dental health.
The most common dental bridges:
• Fixed - Attaches a custom-made “filler tooth” to neighboring crowns
• Maryland - Frequently used to replace missing front teeth, the filler tooth is attached to metal bands bonded to the neighboring teeth — the goal is a seamless and virtually invisible restoration
• Cantilever - When 2 adjoining healthy teeth are neighbored by a missing tooth, they can be used as the foundation to hold a filler tooth in place as part of a cantilever dental bridge
Dentures
Forget what you think you know about dentures. Our dentists use modern materials and the latest technologies to make natural-looking and comfortable dentures for our patients. These aren’t your grandparents’ dentures!
• Partial - Replace multiple missing teeth
• Full - Replace all teeth in the upper or lower jaw
During a denture consultation your dentist will help determine the best option for you.
Implants
Implants have revolutionized the world of dentures. By using implants our dentists can create a much more stable and secure attachment for your dentures. You’ll be able to eat and speak more confidently than ever before. No more messy adhesives!
Colored fillings
Unlike silver mercury amalgam fillings, composite fillings can be custom made to match the natural color of your teeth. Colored fillings are an excellent, durable, and cosmetically beautiful choice for restoring teeth damaged by cavities. The composite resin used in colored fillings is completely safe and doesn’t contain any mercury.
Veneers
Chipped and cracked teeth can be easily repaired with dental veneers. Made from durable porcelain and colored to look like beautiful natural white teeth, veneers are ultra-thin durable porcelain “shells” that cover your teeth. Sometimes called instant orthodontics they not only eliminate chips and cracks, but also fix:
• Crooked teeth
• Small gaps between teeth
• Severely stained teeth
Smile Makeover
When fixing a damaged or missing tooth (or teeth), it’s important to consider the aesthetics of the repair. When you look great, you feel great! At Towson Smile Care, our experienced dentists and skill team offer complimentary cosmetic and restorative treatments to create a truly custom Smile Makeover. The end result is simple: A beautiful and healthy smile you’ll want to show off to the world.
Every Smile Makeover is carefully tailored to meet your needs and smile goals. During your Smile Makeover, you may:
• Replace metal fillings with biocompatible porcelain fillings
• Whiten and brighten your teeth
• Treat gum disease and correct an uneven gum line
• Replace broken or missing teeth
Ask your dentist how a custom Smile Makeover can improve your smile and self-confidence.
Schedule your consultation today
If you’re missing a tooth, we’d love to help. Schedule a consultation at Towson Smile Care and meet with an experienced dentist to discuss your options and find a solution that works for you.
Don’t forget to ask about our $69 new patient special!
Dr. H. Brett Friedman
Dr. Friedman earned his Doctorate of Dental Surgery from the University of Maryland, Baltimore College of Dental Surgery in 1996. For over 20 years, Dr. Friedman has been creating the smiles of his patients’ dreams. He believes that nothing should stand between you and a healthier smile.