How to Regain Your Dental Independence
Posted on February 13th, 2024
There’s no easy way to go through life missing teeth. In fact, depression and anxiety related to tooth loss is being researched and explored. Anecdotally, Fuquay Family Dentistry hears stories from patients every day who are embarrassed or frustrated by lost teeth. Missing teeth makes it difficult to chew foods, speak normally, and be confident in your smile. Often people feel trapped by tooth loss. It prevents you from living life to the fullest. Here we will offer a few solutions and ways you can regain your independence from tooth loss.
Independence from single missing teeth
People lose permanent teeth in a variety of ways. Perhaps you were in an accident or endured oral trauma that knocked out a tooth. Or, maybe you suffered from tooth decay or gum disease which resulted in a missing tooth. No matter how the tooth was lost, a gap in your smile can be embarrassing and unhealthy. While you can get through life missing a tooth, the hole may lead to atrophy of the jawbone and movement of the adjacent teeth. This can lead to further problems down the road. The great news is there are several ways we can help correct a single missing tooth.
You may have heard of a dental bridge. While there are several types, the basic premise of all applications is the same. To fill the hole left by the missing tooth, your dentist will create an appliance (either removable or not) that uses the two healthy teeth on each side as an anchor for a false tooth to fill the gap.
If you want a more permanent solution for a single missing tooth, a dental implant may 
be a great option. A dental implant is a screw-shaped post that is implanted into the jawbone where the tooth has been lost. The implant heals over a course of weeks or months. Once healed, the doctor will attach a custom-made crown to the implant for permanent tooth replacement.
Independence from multiple missing teeth
If you are missing more than one tooth daily life can be stressful. No matter if you’re missing a few teeth or all your teeth, there are several solutions to help you feel great about your smile again.
Partials
Partials are removable appliances made from plastic, metal, or a combination that can be worn during the day. We attach the missing teeth to the appliance and fill the gaps in the smile.
Most people are familiar with traditional dentures. If you are missing all your teeth from a single arch, a denture can completely transform your life. Made from life-like plastics modern dentures can be an affordable way to replace missing teeth. Some denture-wearers dislike that they must remove their dentures to clean them, so for patients that want a more permanent denture solution we offer implant supported dentures.
Implant supported dentures are a fantastic alternative to traditional dentures. If you’re a qualified candidate, we can place several implants that act as anchors for your dentures. Once the denture is secured to the implants, it stays in place no matter what you eat. You take care of your implant supported denture just like you would your natural teeth.
Finally, if you want a smile as natural-looking and secure as modern dentistry can provide, you can replace each missing tooth with a dental implant. Full mouth reconstruction with implants can take time and can be more expensive, but the results are a beautiful, secure, natural-looking, permanent smile.
Gain back your independence this summer and ask Fuquay Family Dentistry about the options we offer.
The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
