Having a failing or missing tooth — or several teeth — is a problem that affects the way you look, feel, and even your health. If everyone at our Royal Oak MI dental office had it their way, everyone would keep their teeth forever and never have a dental issue. But that’s not the case. Some of us have less-than-ideal teeth because of dental diseases. And there is always the chance of dental emergencies.

At North Oaks Dental, we have the training and expertise to provide long-lasting and lifelike tooth replacement options. Our dentists are trained to help patients overcome even the most severe dental issues. We love seeing patients restore their smile and function.

So, what do you do when you have a missing tooth? There are basically three options: Do nothing, Dentures or Bridges, Or Dental Implants. Today, we want to run down the list of options, from the bad to great.

1. Bad option: Do Nothing

Whether you’re dealing with a single missing tooth or an entire mouth of missing teeth, doing nothing never a good thing. First, there’s the obvious cosmetic issues. Missing teeth look terrible and often make you look much older than you really are. If you have missing teeth throughout your mouth, it’s likely that your remaining healthy teeth will shift around inside your mouth. Then there’s functionality. If you’re not replacing your teeth, you can kiss goodbye to your favorite foods. Without your teeth or replacement teeth, it will be nearly impossible to chew anything tough or hard. Your problems will get worse overtime, too, because missing teeth cause the jawbone to recede.

2. Good option: Bridges and Dentures

Bridges and dentures are two of the oldest ways to replace missing teeth. A bridge consists of three dental crowns with middle crown filling the gap created by the missing tooth. A bridge is supported by adjacent healthy teeth, but that also means we need to place crowns on those teeth. A bridge is ultimately a cheaper alternative to a dental implant, but some patients don’t like the idea of putting crowns on other teeth to support the bridge, especially if those teeth are completely healthy.
A denture will rest on the gums to replace the missing tooth or missing teeth. The dentures you’ll find in our office are lifelike, durable, and functional. We can fashion dentures to replace a single missing tooth or all of your teeth. For many patients, dentures are the best option, especially if money is an issue. But dentures are still not as strong as other dental options.

3. Great option: Dental implants

When it comes to replacing missing teeth, dental implants are the strongest tooth replacement option we have in dentistry. Why are implants so great? Well, our dental implants are made from titanium and naturally merge with the jawbone. By merging with the jawbone, the implant actually becomes part of your body and acts like the root of your tooth. Implants can be restored with crowns, bridges, or dentures.

If you want the ultimate support with your new teeth, then dental implants are right for you. While studies show that dentures only provide between 25 and 50 percent of the power of natural teeth, dental implants nearly match the power of your natural teeth.
In many cases, we can give you dental implants and new teeth in a single day!

The types of dental implants:

  • Implant-supported dentures — We can place a few implants around the arch to stabilize your teeth.
  • Mini dental implants — These implants function just like traditional implants but are ideal for patients with thin jawbones than cannot support a full-size implant.
  • All-on-4 dental implants — We use four implants to stabilize new teeth on each arch. The big difference between implant-supported dentures and All-on-4 is that the upper All-on-4 restoration is left exposed. That may seem like a small change, but people with removable denture wearers often complain about having their upper palate covered as it blocks hot and cold sensation and some of their taste. 

Replace Missing Teeth at Royal Oaks Dental

When you come to North Oaks Dental, you’ll be in the care of a dental team that regularly helps people overcome their issues with missing teeth. In fact, Dr. Daboul has written a book about dental implants, Getting Ready for Dental Implant Surgery. Dental implants are a great way to replace missing teeth, but the BEST way to replace teeth is whatever meets your oral health goals.

We’re ready to help you achieve a better, brighter smile. Give us a call today at 248-712-1522 or use the online form to request a visit.