Treatments for Missing Teeth

If you’re missing teeth, you know just how self-conscious that can leave you. This is understandable, of course, since a smile that has a gap or multiple gaps is one that may leave you feeling self-conscious, even around people that you’ve known for years. These aesthetic concerns are one of the reasons that so many people visit the practice of Lexington cosmetic dentist Dr. David Cash.

Dental Problems Associated with Missing Teeth

In addition to aesthetics, however, there are other dental health matters related to missing teeth that need to be addressed. For instance, there tends to be loss of bone density in the area of the missing tooth since there is no bone structure to support. The same is true with gum recession in the area of the tooth gap. The loss of a tooth can even throw off the alignment of your other teeth over time.

When you meet with Lexington cosmetic and general dentistry expert Dr. Cash, he will assess your dental health and determine how best to meet your dental care needs.

Options for Addressing Missing Teeth

There are multiple options for dealing with missing teeth. Some will involve the use of removable dental appliances while others will involve the use of fixed artificial roots to secure a dental appliance. The smile makeover and dental care results can be quite phenomenal. Let’s look at some of the treatments right now.

Dental Bridges

A dental bridge is used to literally bridge the gap between teeth. Dental bridges are ideal for patients who are just missing a tooth or a few teeth. The dental bridge is held in place by anchoring around the teeth adjacent to the tooth gap.

Dentures

When you’re missing many teeth, you may not have enough remaining tooth structure to get a dental bridge. In such cases, dentures are more ideal. Dentures are more substantial sets of artificial teeth that are held in place using your gum structure. Denture creams can generally improve the stability of a denture when it is in place.

Dental Implants (Implant Dentistry)

Lexington dental implants are one of the best options to consider for dealing with missing teeth. Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that are surgically placed into the jawbone and soft tissue of a patient’s mouth. They are not dental restorations in and of themselves but rather used to secure dental restorations. Dental implants can help support a dental bridge, dentures, or even a single dental crown if a patient is missing one tooth.

Additional Considerations for Your Dental Care Needs

In addition to addressing the problems related to missing teeth, we can also deal with a number of other dental care matters. For instance, for some dental problems, we may be able to use porcelain veneers to greatly enhance your smile. Teeth whitening can also be an option for smile enhancement, as well as many other treatments.

Learn More About Cosmetic and Restorative Dentistry Treatment

If you would like to learn more about your options for dealing with missing teeth, be sure to contact our Lexington cosmetic and restorative dentistry practice today. During your consultation with Dr. Cash, he will be able to answer any questions that you may have and address your concerns in full. Getting enough information for you to make an informed decision about your dental health is always our goal.