Multiple Tooth Replacement with Implants Auburn MA Multiple tooth replacement is possible with a removable partial denture, implant-supported bridges, or individual crowns supported by dental implants.How Do You Replace Multiple Missing Teeth?When a person is missing multiple teeth, there is a severe reduction of functioning and bone tissue in the jaw. When the teeth are lost, the jawbone surrounding the teeth is no longer stimulated. As a result, it shrinks and alters the facial appearance and doesn't remain strong enough to support the remaining teeth. At D.A. Dental, our dentists recommend multiple dental implants as one of the most recognized and reliable methods for multiple tooth replacement. Dental implants feel and function like natural teeth, and they allow single or multiple teeth to be replaced, preserving bone structure that removable partial dentures or fixed bridges cannot achieve. What Kind of Options Are There for Multiple Missing Teeth?There are three main options to replace multiple missing teeth. Implant Supported BridgesImplant-supported bridges are a permanent and secure option to replace multiple missing teeth. The implants keep the teeth and bone healthy in the long run and preserve the jawbone from deteriorating and making other teeth unstable as well.Implant-supported bridges have many advantages over standard dental bridges. They do not require the shaping of adjacent teeth to secure the bridge in place, and they are easier to clean and maintain than fixed or removable dentures or bridges. Removable Partial DentureWhen a person's jawbone is not strong enough to support a dental implant, or the person is unwilling to undergo such a highly invasive surgery, then removable partial dentures are a good option to replace missing teeth. When a person still has some natural teeth remaining, removable partial dentures are suggested to replace the few missing teeth in a simpler and less invasive procedure. However, these dentures can be uncomfortable for the patients and require removal and cleaning on a daily basis.Fixed BridgesFixed dental bridges are used to replace two, three, four, and in rare cases, more than four missing teeth at once. They are permanently attached and do not slide as compared to dentures. However, the patient must have sufficient tooth strength as dental bridges are permanently attached to neighboring teeth to support the bridge. Also, the more teeth that a single bridge is replacing, the less stable it can become.How Are Implant-Supported Bridges Better Than Removable Partial Dentures or Fixed Bridges?Multiple tooth replacements with dental implants have several advantages over removable partial dentures and fixed bridges. First, dental implants provide stimulation to the jawbone by replacing lost roots, which means that they function like natural teeth. Implants do not take support from or damage the adjacent teeth to replace a missing tooth, which means that the health of remaining teeth doesn't get affected by dental implants. The second advantage of this replacement option is that it is easier to maintain and clean the multiple-tooth dental implants with regular brushing and hygiene practices. Removable partial dentures need to be removed and cleaned after every meal. They also must be soaked overnight because dentures need moisture to retain their shape. Fixed bridges, on the other hand, need special cleaning techniques like using a piece of super floss, interdental brush, or floss threader to clean under the bridge. The third advantage is that multiple tooth replacements with implants help preserve the jawbone and prevent it from further deteriorating. Dental implants are drilled inside the jawbone and later integrated into its structure. In this way, the bone surrounds the dental implants, and the bite force is transferred all the way to the jawbone. In removable partial dentures and fixed bridges, there is no replacement for missing roots. So the bone which was previously stimulated starts to deteriorate and collapse, leading to a receded jawbone structure and an unattractive smile. The gums and bones around a removable partial denture or fixed bridge will also start to recede, and the cement can wash out so that there is a visible defect that invites the growth of bacteria. Implant ProcedureThe following steps go into replacing multiple teeth with an implant-supported bridge.
How Many Teeth Can Be Replaced By Multiple Dental Implants?Implant-supported bridges can replace several teeth, and the number of implants used depends upon the patient's situation. Typically, when teeth are missing in a row, two dental implants supporting individual teeth can hang another tooth in the middle. So to replace three missing teeth, two dental implants are enough. Typically, a dental professional will install a single dental implant for every missing tooth. But in this way, the cost, time, and procedure severity are increased. Not to mention that the jawbone might not be strong enough to support many dental implants at once. Our dental professionals recommend connecting the multiple dental implants with an implant-supported bridge, which is a much more economical way to replace multiple missing teeth. Contact us at (774) 374-8295 to book an appointment if you want more information regarding the procedure, and our dental professionals will be happy to answer all your questions regarding the procedure. |
