Your Tooth Replacement Options To keep your smile and body healthy, you should choose the right dental prosthetic that meets your specific needs when replacing missing teeth. Dentures Dentures are an incredibly flexible option, replacing anywhere from a few teeth to an entire smile of missing teeth. Partial dentures use a single appliance to restore as many teeth as you need, as long as it is less than the full arch. The base rests against your remaining natural teeth, with the replacement teeth you need crafted toReplacing missing teeth aren’t just important for aesthetics. Dental prosthetics play a crucial role in your mouth and body’s health, too. After a tooth extraction, it can be tempting not to get a tooth replacement. You don't want to deal with the hassle or cost of getting a dental prosthetic made. Eating will be more challenging than you're used to, but you know that you can manage with a tooth gap or a missing smile. Or even if you get dentures, you might not feel like wearing them while eating during the first few months. Adapting to false teeth can be somewhat uncomfortable. However, eating without natural or artificial teeth can make a huge negative impact on your smile. Jaw Issues One of the biggest issues with having a tooth removed is the weakening of your jawbone. Without the daily stimulation and pressure provided by a tooth, the underlying alveolar bone starts shrinking in a process called resorption. This resorption first makes its appearance within six months of extraction, and it continues from there. It is especially rapid during the first few months to a year, where about 25% of the original bone deteriorates. By eating without a dental prosthetic, you can speed up your jawbone loss because you have to work harder when chewing. The jaw can weaken enough that it can fracture under pressure. Additionally, increased pressure on your gums and jaw often leads to jaw pain and TMJ disorder (TMD). TMD occurs when the joint connecting your lower and upper jaws becomes hurt or damaged, which can be incredibly painful. In extreme cases, the jaw can lock shut, making it difficult or even impossible for you to open and close your mouth. Can Bone Loss In The Jaw Be Reversed? There are two ways you can reverse the damage caused by bone resorption: bone grafting and dental implants. Grafts are used to surgically transplant new bone where there isn’t enough. This graft will integrate with the rest of your natural bone over three to six months, returning your jaw to its natural state. There are three primary sources for this bone: Yourself, taken from elsewhere in the body Donators, either human or animal Labs, using synthetic material Dental implants are the only tooth replacement option that stops bone loss completely. While a dental bridge or denture keeps your remaining teeth from moving out of alignment, they don't prevent resorption. Our mouths depend on our teeth's pressure and stimulation to maintain the alveolar bone. Dentures only provide around 10% of the necessary force, and bridges apply direct pressure to neighboring teeth rather than the bone below. However, implants require that you have enough healthy bone tissue to keep them rooted firmly in your jaw. Previous gum disease or waiting too long to get them can cause your jaw to deteriorate the jaw enough that immediate implant surgery isn’t possible. However, you don’t have to settle for bridges or dentures if you’re set on implants. You can still receive a graft to replace the missing bone.

Gum Infection and Disease Our gums are fragile and very sensitive. Without teeth or dentures, our chewing puts direct force that they can't handle well. Over time, these soft tissues become sore and irritated. Not only can this be painful, but it can also provide openings for oral bacteria to enter and infect your gums. As this bacteria accumulates, it can lead to gingivitis and gum disease. Some of the common warning signs of developing gum disease include: Red, tender, and swollen gums Easily bleeding gums, especially when brushing or flossing Persistent bad breath Receding gum line Pain when chewing Loose and shifting teeth Change in your bite’s and denture’s fit Pus between teeth What Are The Stages Of Periodontal Disease? Gingivitis When gum disease first appears, it is relatively mild. The gums are only irritated and inflamed, but they aren’t significantly hurt or damaged by bacteria and plaque. Gingivitis is the only gum disease stage that can be reversed with great dental hygiene. Without oral bacteria and plaque infecting them, your gums will have time to heal and recover. Usually, gingivitis treatment takes about two weeks to restore your dental health. Periodontitis Once gum disease worsens into periodontitis, the gums begin pulling away from your teeth, creating deep pockets. As these pockets deepen, your gums start receding. The connective tissues and bone are irreversibly damaged as well, meaning simple brushing and flossing isn’t enough. You will need something more comprehensive, like a deep cleaning or gum flap surgery, to manage the infection. Advanced Periodontitis In this final periodontal disease stage, your gums, supporting bone, and connective ligaments are destroyed. As these tissues are crucial for holding your teeth in place, your teeth begin shifting in place and loosening. Bone and tissue grafts can replace the lost material, but this will only stall your gum infection's progression, not stop it. At its worst, your teeth may fall out or need extraction. Digestion Problems Without teeth, real or replacement, you'll have a much harder time eating your food properly. When chewing becomes a hassle, patients often take too-big bites, which isn't good for their digestion. Their bodies don't get all of the nutrients they need from their meals, even if they resort to softer foods. These undigested foods sit in the colon, where they collect bacteria, leading to flatulence and indigestion.

Your Tooth Replacement Options To keep your smile and body healthy, you should choose the right dental prosthetic that meets your specific needs when replacing missing teeth. Dentures Dentures are an incredibly flexible option, replacing anywhere from a few teeth to an entire smile of missing teeth. Partial dentures use a single appliance to restore as many teeth as you need, as long as it is less than the full arch. The base rests against your remaining natural teeth, with the replacement teeth you need crafted to complete your smile. For added security, a denture dentist can add metal clamps to attach to your real teeth. For patients needing to replace a full mouth of extracted teeth, a complete denture is required instead. Without natural teeth to rely on, these prosthetics use the natural shape of your jaw structure. At first, this denture will fit easily and be unlikely to slip or pop out when eating. However, as bone loss changes your jaw's shape, your denture won't be as comfortable. Eventually, it will need to be replaced. What can you not eat with dentures? While dentures fit your smile exactly when they are first made, resorption and certain foods can occasionally pull your prosthetic free. Other foods can potentially damage your new teeth or get painfully stuck between your denture and gums. To ensure that your dentures stay stable and in mint condition, our Long Beach dentists recommend avoiding these foods: Foods with hard or crunchy bits like nuts and popcorn Chewy or tough foods Sticky foods and candies Foods you need to bite into like apples or corn on the cob Dental Bridges A dental bridge is an excellent option for replacing one or more teeth in a row. This appliance uses two crowns on either end with your new teeth in between. The crowns are attached to your natural teeth, allowing your replacement ones to rest firmly and securely in place. To fit them, your teeth must be filed down to make room, just as your dentist would for any other crown procedure. Bridges are an incredibly cost-effective way to restore a single area of your missing smile without having to wait weeks or months for your prosthetic to be prepared. On average, they last between 10 and 15 years. However, with great care and excellent dental hygiene, you can extend their lifespan beyond that. Dental Implants As they are the only way to prevent bone resorption completely, dental implants are the best way to replace a missing tooth. They are composed of three main components: an implant, an abutment, and a crown. The implant is a titanium post or screw that is surgically inserted and fused to the bone. The crown restores the natural look and shape of your tooth. And the abutment connects the implant and crown, holding the entire tooth together. As each piece needs to be put in separately, the process can take between six to eight months to complete. Implants are also compatible with both dentures and bridges. Denture implants offer greater stability by connecting the prosthetic to implants and preventing bone loss over time. There are also complete denture implants, such as All-on-4 dental implants, that don't need to be removed at night. Implant bridges replace at least three teeth at a time, anchoring the crowns on implants rather than your remaining teeth. With great care, implant-supported prosthetics can last more than a decade or two longer than their regular counterparts. complete your smile. For added security, a denture dentist can add metal clamps to attach to your real teeth. For patients needing to replace a full mouth of extracted teeth, a complete denture is required instead. Without natural teeth to rely on, these prosthetics use the natural shape of your jaw structure. At first, this denture will fit easily and be unlikely to slip or pop out when eating. However, as bone loss changes your jaw's shape, your denture won't be as comfortable. Eventually, it will need to be replaced. What can you not eat with dentures? While dentures fit your smile exactly when they are first made, resorption and certain foods can occasionally pull your prosthetic free. Other foods can potentially damage your new teeth or get painfully stuck between your denture and gums. To ensure that your dentures stay stable and in mint condition, our Long Beach dentists recommend avoiding these foods: Foods with hard or crunchy bits like nuts and popcorn Chewy or tough foods Sticky foods and candies Foods you need to bite into like apples or corn on the cob Dental Bridges A dental bridge is an excellent option for replacing one or more teeth in a row. This appliance uses two crowns on either end with your new teeth in between. The crowns are attached to your natural teeth, allowing your replacement ones to rest firmly and securely in place. To fit them, your teeth must be filed down to make room, just as your dentist would for any other crown procedure. Bridges are an incredibly cost-effective way to restore a single area of your missing smile without having to wait weeks or months for your prosthetic to be prepared. On average, they last between 10 and 15 years. However, with great care and excellent dental hygiene, you can extend their lifespan beyond that. Dental Implants As they are the only way to prevent bone resorption completely, dental implants are the best way to replace a missing tooth. They are composed of three main components: an implant, an abutment, and a crown. The implant is a titanium post or screw that is surgically inserted and fused to the bone. The crown restores the natural look and shape of your tooth. And the abutment connects the implant and crown, holding the entire tooth together. As each piece needs to be put in separately, the process can take between six to eight months to complete. Implants are also compatible with both dentures and bridges. Denture implants offer greater stability by connecting the prosthetic to implants and preventing bone loss over time. There are also complete denture implants, such as All-on-4 dental implants, that don't need to be removed at night. Implant bridges replace at least three teeth at a time, anchoring the crowns on implants rather than your remaining teeth. With great care, implant-supported prosthetics can last more than a decade or two longer than their regular counterparts.