Do you have one or more missing teeth? Dr. Karim Naguib and his professional dental team offer restorative treatment options for dental concerns in the Lancaster and Palmdale areas.
Restoring missing teeth not only improves the aesthetics of your smile but improves the form and function of your bite. Learn more about the benefits of replacing missing teeth as well as the treatments we offer in-office below.
Why Replace Missing Teeth?
Missing teeth can have a significant impact on your oral health and overall well-being. Missing teeth can lead to difficulty eating, speech issues, and affect your self-confidence. Additionally, the gaps left by missing teeth can result in bone loss and shifting of surrounding teeth over time.
When you lose even one tooth, bone loss starts in the area where the tooth was lost. The bone starts to deteriorate and your face sags along with it. This causes a premature aging effect.
Even if you aren’t that old, your face appears older because of the sagging facial skin in that area. If the tooth is one of your front ones, it may make you self-conscious about your smile.
When you have a hole in your smile, the teeth around that hole will start to move to fill the gap. If you’ve had teeth straightening procedures done before, losing a tooth will begin to negate those effects. Your teeth will move, becoming crooked or jumbled in their attempts to fill that gap.
Depending on the location of your missing tooth, it can affect your chewing and speaking ability. If you are missing a molar, it affects chewing. On the other hand, if one of your front teeth is missing, it can have a negative affect on your speech. It can be hard for you to eat a balanced diet and eat all of the foods that you love when you have a missing tooth.
By taking steps to restore your mouth from tooth loss, you can:
- Prevent early onset gum recession.
- Improve the function of your bite.
- Support jaw bone retention.
- Provide stability and security to the remaining teeth.
- Improve your speech and ability to chew effectively.
If you have one or more missing teeth and want a natural-looking replacement, call our Lancaster office at (661) 948-6700 or our Palmdale office at (661) 273-6565. Our team will help you find a solution that aligns with your needs. It’s important to quickly replace your missing teeth. By replacing them quickly, you can restore your smile and improve your overall quality of life.
Missing Teeth Treatments
Our modern dentistry provides several effective missing teeth replacement options. There are multiple treatments available at Premier Dental Care that we can provide to restore one or more of your missing teeth. The following options are among the most common and popular missing teeth treatments.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are the gold standard and most durable option for replacing lost teeth. Our dentists can replace single missing teeth or whole arches of teeth utilizing affordable dental implants. Dental implants consist of a titanium post that our prosthodontist inserts into the jawbone. After a period of 3 to 6 months, we will add an abutment and dental crown for a permanent restoration.
Dental implants offer many benefits, including improved chewing functionality, maintenance of jawbone density, and preservation of your adjacent teeth. Many patients may even forget that they have dental implants because they look and function like natural teeth.
Dental Bridges
Our dentists can replace multiple teeth with dental bridges. Furthermore, modern dental bridges can be removable or secured in place with dental implants. This solution utilizes surrounding natural teeth to secure and replace consecutive missing teeth. Patients can prevent further tooth loss by receiving a dental bridge as well.
Dentures & Partials
Full and partial dentures provide complete support for prosthetic teeth and can replace the entire upper or lower arch of teeth. Like dental bridges, they can be removable or secured by dental implants. Many patients also find that it is easier to bite and chew food with full or partial dentures.
Missing Teeth FAQs
Missing teeth can impact your oral health. Learn more about them by reading the answers to these commonly asked questions.
Why is it important to replace missing teeth?
Replacing missing teeth is crucial for maintaining oral health and overall well-being. Gaps can cause nearby teeth to shift, leading to misalignment and difficulty chewing or speaking. Missing teeth can also result in jawbone deterioration and changes in facial appearance over time. Restoring your smile can improve both functionality and aesthetics.
What are my options for replacing missing teeth?
Dental implants, bridges, and dentures are common options for replacing missing teeth. Implants provide a long-lasting, natural-looking solution, while bridges use adjacent teeth for support. Dentures are removable options that can replace multiple missing teeth. Your dentist will recommend the best choice based on your needs, oral health, and budget.
How does a missing tooth affect my oral health?
Missing teeth can shift surrounding teeth, causing bite misalignment and difficulty chewing. It can also increase the risk of gum disease and tooth decay in adjacent teeth. Additionally, the absence of a tooth can result in jawbone loss over time, impacting facial structure and oral function.
Is it possible to leave a missing tooth untreated?
While leaving a missing tooth untreated is possible, doing so can lead to various problems. Shifting teeth, jawbone loss, and increased wear on remaining teeth are common complications. Additionally, untreated gaps may contribute to gum disease and negatively affect appearance and self-esteem.
How can missing teeth affect my facial appearance?
Missing teeth can cause changes in facial appearance, including sagging cheeks and a sunken look, as the jawbone deteriorates over time. Replacing teeth helps maintain facial structure and restores a more youthful, balanced appearance. Implants and properly fitted dentures can prevent these issues.
What should I do if I lose a tooth suddenly?
If you lose a tooth due to injury, try to recover it and keep it moist by placing it in milk or saline solution. Contact your dentist immediately for emergency care. In some cases, the tooth can be reinserted if treated quickly. If reinsertion isn’t possible, your dentist will discuss options for replacement.
Request an Appointment
If you’re dealing with missing teeth and don’t know which treatment option is best for you, we recommend scheduling a consultation with our experienced dentists. During this consultation, our dentist will talk with you about your specific case and discuss the various treatment options that we have for you.
Call our Lancaster office at (661) 948-6700 or schedule a dental visit to our Lancaster dentist office online. You can call our Palmdale office at (661) 273-6565 or schedule a visit to our Palmdale dentist office online.