If quite self-conscious about it. Gaps in
If you’re missingteeth in the front of your mouth, you may be quite self-conscious about it.Gaps in your smile may lead you to hide your grin in pictures, or cover yourmouth when you laugh. If the empty spaces are further back in your mouth, itmay impair your ability to eat properly, increasing the risk of choking onlarge food segments. Luckily, our dental clinic in Ottawa offers several viableoptions to help fill in the spaces left behind by a lost tooth.BridgeA bridge is an excellent solution when there is an emptyspace surrounded by two teeth.
The appliance restores a full chewing surface tothe portion of the mouth that had the gap. To create a bridge, a false tooth,known as the pontic tooth, is connected to two crowns. The dental device isthen placed over the anchor teeth, referred to as the abutment teeth. In orderfor the bridge to be placed successfully, the abutment teeth need to be groundinto posts so the crowns can be attached over top of them. If either of theseteeth become damaged over the lifetime of the bridge, you run the risk oflosing the entire appliance as the abutment teeth are required to keep it inplace. It is also difficult to clean underneath a bridge.ImplantsImplants consist of two pieces, the anchor and the crown.
The anchor is most often made of metal, commonly titanium, and is screwed intothe jawbone. The crown is the visible portion of the implant, and is shaped andcoloured to match the missing tooth. Implants can be placed without the aid ofabutment teeth, so they are a useful choice when that is not an option, or theabutment teeth are healthy and it is unnecessary to damage them by grindingthem. The downside of implants is the metal used. Metals in our mouth can causebacteria to produce atypical toxins, adding stress to our immune system as itcombats these new toxins.DenturesWhen getting dentures, they can come in either full orpartial. A full set replaces all the teeth in the jaw, while a partial set onlyreplaces a few missing teeth. Partial dentures hold the false teeth in a removableplastic or metal frame.
It is formed to fit comfortably around the teeth itwill be beside, and may partially cover some gum tissue or the roof of themouth. It can also have hooks to help hold the dentures in place. Cons towearing dentures are that these hooks may be visible when smiling. Also, thedenture appliance needs to be removed every night to be cleaned, making it notas easy as a bridge or implant. Some dentures need to be held in withadhesives, and these may come loose over the course of the day or while eatingtough foods.
If you are missing teeth and would like to find out whatoptions could work for you to restore your smile, give Family Dental Care acall at 613-736-5000. Your happiness and confidence matter to us!
