Tooth extractions are a common general dentistry service. An extraction involves removing a tooth, including its roots. Extractions might be necessary if teeth are so badly damaged or diseased that they cannot be restored, or during childhood, when baby teeth fail to fall out quickly enough to create space for emerging, adult teeth.

Another very common reason for tooth extraction is the removal of wisdom teeth. Third molars (wisdom teeth) emerge during adulthood and can contribute to many types of oral health issues including improper tooth alignment, infections, TMJ disorder and discomfort such as orofacial pain and headaches. Removing wisdom teeth is often considered a precautionary measure to preserve oral health and well being. When performing tooth extractions, our dentists take great care to provide a pleasant and comfortable experience.

Dental Implants

Our dentists and staff at Dental Depot understand the devastating effects tooth loss can have on our patients. Losing a tooth can shake your confidence, affect your ability to eat and lead to additional tooth loss because one missing tooth affects the support of adjacent teeth. Dental Depot offers a number of options for replacing missing teeth. One of our most popular services is the placement of dental implants. These long-lasting and low maintenance replacement teeth can restore both oral function and appearance.

Why Replacing Lost Teeth is Important

Just losing one tooth can throw off the entire oral health system. Tooth loss leads to bone atrophy and leaves neighboring teeth unsupported. Patients missing multiple teeth face greater risks to their oral health as well. Beyond the oral health implications of tooth loss, missing teeth has a great impact on one’s emotional well being. Many people who have suffered with tooth loss feel incomplete, embarrassed of their appearance and might socially isolate themselves due to depression and anxiety. We understand that losing a tooth is a delicate emotional issue, however, we encourage patients to explore their tooth replacement options as soon as possible because bone can atrophy quite rapidly after the loss of one or more teeth. Bone loss can affect a person’s candidacy for certain treatments.

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How Dental Implants Work

A dental implant is used to replace the lost roots of teeth. Overlooked by other prosthetics (which only replace the visible crowns of teeth), the roots of teeth are very important for maintaining healthy bone mass. Once a tooth is lost, bone is left unstimulated. The body often reabsorbs inactive bone. Dental implants are made from a strong and biocompatible metal called titanium. This metal is unique because bone will fuse to it. Only a few millimeters in diameter, a dental implant has a ridged texture that slightly resembles a screw.

The implant will be surgically placed into the jawbone. In time, the bone surrounding the implant will generate new tissue and integrate to it. Once the implant is stable, a permanent prosthetic such as a dental crown or series of dental crowns (a bridge) can be attached to an abutment that slightly protrudes through the gums. After the prosthetic is secured to the implant, a patient’s smile is beautifully restored. As tooth-colored materials are chosen for the restoration of visible tooth structure, patients will enjoy a very natural looking tooth replacement.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Dental implants present a few unique advantages when compared to other tooth replacement methods. First, stabilized implants are very durable and long lasting. A dental implant can hold prosthetics firmly for decades, if not the rest of a person’s lifetime. This durability is important for restoring oral function, too. Implants allow patients to eat a full diet of even difficult to chew foods. Unlike dentures, which tend to become ill fitting over time, dental implants and the prosthetics they hold will not move during oral function.

An additional unique benefit to having a dental implant is the fact that this tooth replacement method is low maintenance. Unlike dentures, which require removal for cleaning, or bridges that might need water irrigation underneath their crowns, dental implants are cleaned just like biological teeth. Patients will brush and floss as they normally would. It is important, though, to practice proper and thorough oral hygiene to protect the tissues that support the implant. If a patient with dental implants develops gum disease or tooth abscesses, it can threaten the bone and gums that hold the implant in place.

Scheduling a Dental Implants Consultation

If you have suffered with tooth loss and are interested in evaluating your tooth replacement options, we recommend that you schedule a consultation at a Dental Depot nearest you. At your consultation, our team will answer your questions, provide patient education on the procedure and perform an oral examination to determine if you are a candidate for dental implants.

In most instances, patients receiving implants should not smoke or have a history of gum disease. Another important factor in the success rate of an implant is the amount of bone a patient has at the site of implantation. Bone density is important for the stabilization of the implant. If bone is sparse, we may recommend that patients receive a simple bone graft prior to implant placement.

If a person is not a candidate for dental implants, our staff will suggest other tooth replacement options such as bridges or partial dentures. Our team believes that no one should have to suffer the health and quality of life effects of an incomplete smile. When treating tooth loss, we work diligently to ensure that our guests feel welcomed and comfortable with our staff.

Call Dental Depot today to reserve an appointment with one of our caring and experienced dentists.

Dentures

Dentures are a popular method for replacing lost teeth. Dentures can address both minor tooth loss and total tooth loss in a cost-effective manner, especially among patients who have certain oral conditions and health problems that might not make them suitable candidates for other tooth replacement methods such as dental implants. Our Dental Depot locations offer custom-made dentures to patients suffering from tooth loss. Our goal is to replace lost teeth and complete the appearance of smiles in a professional and compassionate environment.

The Devastating Effects of Tooth Loss

Unlike when we were children, losing teeth in adulthood is not cause for celebration. Instead of being viewed as a rite of passage, tooth loss in adulthood is actually physically and emotionally devastating. Some patients liken losing their teeth to losing an extremity because our teeth are an important part of our daily lives. From chewing and tearing food to conveying joyous emotion, a smile affected by tooth loss can make oral function difficult and cause us to feel depressed and socially isolated. Sometimes, patients with total tooth loss develop malnutrition because their diets become so limited while others may become reclusive because they fear social interaction with friends, family, and strangers.

From an oral health perspective, losing a tooth affects the vitality of the oral cavity – especially bone mass. Tooth loss leads to bone deterioration, which can change the shape of the face and make a person appear much older than he or she should. Due to bone atrophy, just losing one or two teeth can lead to systemic tooth loss because remaining teeth will be unsupported. Bone atrophy can also affect the joints that connect the lower mandible to the skull (the TMJs) and lead to orofacial pain and difficulty opening and closing the mouth.

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Full Dentures

A full denture is used to replace an entire arch of teeth that is missing in either the upper or lower jaw. For completely edentulous patients, two sets of full dentures are required to give the appearance and function of a complete smile. Full dentures rest directly on top of the gums where they are supported by the arched shape of the jawbone. At the end of the day, full dentures are removed for overnight cleaning and soaking.

Partial Dentures

Partial dentures are used to only replace a few missing teeth. These prosthetics will be connected to banding that is concealed by the prosthetic teeth themselves as well as the natural teeth in the mouth. The prosthetic teeth attached to a partial will fit next to or between existing healthy teeth. Unlike a full denture, a partial is supported by clasps that attach to biological teeth. Like full dentures, partials are removed at night for cleaning and soaking.

Custom Made for Comfort and Quality

When a patient decides to receive dentures, the process to fabricate them is very detailed and intricate so that his or her new teeth look and feel natural. Since everyone’s oral anatomy is unique, customization of prosthetic teeth is essential for increasing oral function and restoring smiles. From the size of one’s mouth to the shape and thickness of their jaws, dentures must be tailor made to fit well. Ill fitting dentures are incredibly uncomfortable and can make eating food very cumbersome, if not impossible.

The process for creating dentures begins with taking pictures, X-rays and impressions (molds) of jaws and any existing teeth. Once these images are retrieved and the molds are ready, our dentists will determine the unique measurements of dentures. These measurements and specifications will then be sent to a dental laboratory where the full or partial denture will be created by skilled technicians. While patients are waiting for their new teeth, they may be given temporary prosthetics to wear. Once the dentures are ready, they will be sent to our office and patients will return for a final fitting. If there are any issues with the way dentures fit, adjustments will be made.

In addition to being custom made, dentures are crafted from very high quality materials to help lend a natural appearance and improvement to one’s smile. Porcelain is used to mimic lost tooth structure while pink-colored acrylic is used to resemble gum tissue. The pink colored portion of dentures is important for creating a seamless transition from natural gum structure to prosthetics.

Scheduling a Tooth Replacement Consultation

If you have lost one or more teeth, we strongly encourage you to schedule a consultation with one of our dentists at Dental Depot. During your consultation, we will perform an oral examination and inquire about your dental and medical history. We will help you determine the best tooth replacement option for your unique needs.

Dental Depot is accepting new patients. Call us today to reserve a tooth replacement consultation.