What Options Do I Have To Replace Missing Teeth?

If you’re missing one or more of your natural teeth in Reston, you may be wondering what options you have for replacing your missing teeth and restoring your smile. In this blog, we’ll take a look at the top options provided by Dr. Ahanor at our office. Read on, and get an overview of your options for replacing missing teeth in Reston.

Removable Restorations (Dentures)

At Aglow Dental Studio, we offer comfortable, custom-fitted removable restorations, also known as “dentures.” There are two primary types of dentures available.

Partial dentures – Partial dentures consist of one or more false teeth, which are supported by a metal and acrylic framework. This framework clips onto your healthy teeth, and holds the false teeth in place, filling the gaps in your smile. This restores your smile and your bite. Partial dentures are great if you’re only missing a few teeth and are on a tight budget.
Full-mouth or “complete” dentures – Full dentures are used to replace the upper, lower, or both rows of teeth. They are only used if you have already lost most or all of your teeth. This is because all of your teeth must be extracted to get full dentures.

This is necessary because full dentures use an acrylic base that fits tightly over your gums, and is held in place by friction. This base supports a full series of natural-looking acrylic teeth, which restore your smile and your bite.

Fixed Restorations (Dental Bridges)

If you are missing a few teeth, fixed restorations or “dental bridges” from Aglow Dental Studio may be a good choice. As the name implies, these restorations are fixed in place and are not removable, unlike dentures.

Fixed dental bridges use two crowns to support one or more false teeth. These false teeth or “pontics,” fill up the gaps caused by tooth loss. They are held in place by dental crowns that attach to two healthy “abutment teeth.”

Unlike dentures, the fixed nature of dental bridges means they won’t move or shift, and you do not need to remove them for cleaning. This makes them more convenient in some cases. Dental bridges also tend to last longer than dentures, since they are made out of durable metal and porcelain materials.

Dental Implants

Dental implants are widely considered by dentists to be the best way to replace missing teeth. They consist of two parts. The first part is a small metal post or rod that’s surgically implanted into your gums and jaw bone.

Over time, this post heals and becomes a permanent part of your jaw. Then, it can be used to support an “implant restoration.” Most commonly, one implant is used with a dental crown to replace a single missing tooth. However, two dental implants can be used to create an implant-supported bridge, replacing 3 or more teeth at once.

In some cases, a series of 4-6 implants can be used to support a fixed or removable implant-supported denture. Implant-supported dentures will never shift or move, last longer than traditional dentures, and are more effective at preserving your oral health.

Explore Your Options For Tooth Replacement At Aglow Dental Studio!

As a dentist, Dr. Ahanor has years of experience in all aspects of tooth replacement. If you’re missing one or more teeth in Reston and you’re not sure what the best option is to replace your teeth, just contact us online or give us a call at (703) 651-6130 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Ahanor today.

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