In an ideal world, every person would have access to dental care and be taught about oral hygiene from a young age. The reality, however, is quite different. Many adults find themselves with extensive dental problems as they grow older due to inadequate or a complete lack of care in their youth. Fortunately, advancements in dental technology have made it possible to reverse the effects of poor oral health. Patients who are missing teeth or have teeth that are cracked or otherwise injured have a number of options for restoring their smiles, including crowns, bridges, dentures, or implants. These restorative techniques can help you achieve the healthy, beautiful smile you were born to have.
A Solution to Missing Teeth: Dental Implants
Dental implants have been used for over 35 years as a durable, highly effective way to replace missing teeth and can be an invaluable step in improving your health and overall well-being. Not only can missing teeth affect your confidence, but they can also have a number of negative effects on your oral health, including:
- Crowding, chipping, and tilting of nearby teeth
- Reduced ability to chew
- Change in your bite (the way your teeth fit together)
Implants can address these health issues as well as the cosmetic side effects of missing teeth.
What Are Dental Implants?
An implant is a titanium alloy post that serves as a replacement for the root of a missing tooth. The post is surgically implanted into the jaw, and a temporary prosthetic tooth is attached to it until it has fused with the surrounding bone. When the post has fully integrated into the mouth, Dr. Russell will replace the temporary replacement with a permanent restoration that looks and functions like a natural tooth.
Implants require minor surgery, during which you will be comfortably sedated. They are the sturdiest and longest-lasting of all available tooth-replacement options and are an especially attractive alternative for long-time denture wearers.
Who Is a Candidate for Implants?
If you are missing one or more teeth as a result of injury, disease, or decay, you can benefit from dental implants. We’ve noticed that some of the best candidates for implants are long-time denture wearers who can no longer speak or chew comfortably with dentures. In these cases, several teeth are implanted at one time, and are often combined with dental bridges to create a fully functional smile.
Ideally, all of our implant patients will be in good overall health with no gum disease and with sufficient bone structure to support the post. They must also make the commitment to brush and floss regularly following implantation and keep their gums in good health. Dr. Russell will be happy to speak with you about this life-changing procedure and help you to determine if implants are right for you.
Crowns
Although excellent for treating minor to moderate decay, a filling cannot be used if a tooth is too damaged or weak to support it. At this point, the tooth must be fitted with a crown. While fillings only cover the part of a tooth affected by decay, a crown cups over the entire top of the tooth—that is, any part that is not underneath the gum line.
Crowns can be made of metal, porcelain, or a combination of the two. While preventing the spread of decay, crowns can also restore strength to damaged teeth and improve your overall speaking and chewing ability.
Bridges
If you are missing one or more teeth, the gap can easily be filled with a fixed dental bridge. A bridge consists of a prosthetic tooth fused between two crowns that are placed on either side of the gap. The crowns can be attached to existing natural teeth or dental implants, or even a combination of the two. In fact, bridges are an excellent way to reduce the cost of full-mouth restoration. Many patients chose to have just a few implants and replace the rest of their missing teeth with bridges. A bridge will last about five to seven years with proper maintenance.
Full and Partial Dentures
Dentures are among the most time-tested methods of replacing lost teeth, and advances in modern denture technology have made them more comfortable and natural looking than ever. Dr. Russell will make a mold of your gums and inner-mouth for use in the creation of a customized set of dentures. He will also take into account the size, shape, color, and texture of your original teeth to create a look that is as close as possible to your natural smile.
If you are missing all of your teeth, you will need a full set of dentures; if you are only missing some, a partial denture will suffice. Replacing your missing teeth will do wonders for your oral and overall health by restoring support to your facial muscles and bone structure, helping you to eat a wide range or nutritious foods, and allowing you speak comfortably and resume an active lifestyle.
At our office, Dr. Russell can perform tooth extraction and a denture fitting all in the same day. We offer special discounts to patients of all ages, as well as warranties on all of our dentures.
Talk to Dr. Russell
Choosing the restorative procedure that is best suited to your specific needs can be difficult, and Dr. Russell wants you to be well informed about the benefits and drawbacks of each. After carefully examining your current condition, Dr. Russell will sit down with you to develop a customized plan based on your age, overall health, lifestyle, and personal preferences. Contact our office today to set up an appointment and to gain a more thorough understanding of restorative dentistry.
Leonard A. Russell, D.D.S.
2204 South Taylor Road
Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118
Phone: 216-321-3462
