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
Do I really need to replace just one missing tooth?
Yes, even one missing tooth can compromise both the look of your smile and your oral health. The jawbone where your tooth has been lost starts to deteriorate immediately after it’s lost. The longer you wait to replace your tooth, the more issues you’ll develop.
Can a missing tooth change the look of my face?
Yes. The most obvious change is that you’ll have a space where your tooth used to be. But because of the jawbone deterioration that starts to occur, your face starts to sag. This can prematurely age your facial structure.
What happens if I don’t replace my missing tooth?
Having just one missing tooth can impact the health of the rest of your mouth. People who are missing a tooth are more likely to experience things like tooth decay, gum disease, further tooth loss, bite problems, and more. Your teeth may shift to close the gap and form other gaps in the process.
What is the healthiest way to replace missing teeth?
Most dental professionals consider dental implants the healthiest option for replacing missing teeth. This is due to their durability and ability to promote jawbone health. Moreover, tooth implants normally do not cause harm to natural teeth, gums, or bones.
How can I cover my missing teeth while waiting for a dental implant?
While patients wait for their dental implant, they usually have several interim options to cover the gap. An oral surgeon will use a temporary crown or bridge to cover it while you wait. They can also use a removable partial denture. Overall, these cosmetic options may also help with chewing and speaking.
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, CA, dentist office at (661) 948-6700 or schedule a dental visit to our Lancaster dentist office online. Call our Palmdale, CA dentist office at (661) 273-6565 or schedule a visit to our Palmdale dentist office online.