Tooth Replacement
Dental Implants
Implants are our first choice for many situations involving one or more missing teeth. Just like medical science has allowed us to replace knees and hips, dental implants have been developed to act as a replacement tooth.
They are essentially artificial roots upon which Drs. Steel can build a functional and attractive replacement tooth or teeth. Implants can be used to replace a single tooth, multiple teeth, or all of the teeth in the upper or lower arch. Because of their versatility, dental implants can be a valuable treatment option for many situations.
Dental implants have significant advantages over other some tooth replacement options:
- They don’t require removing any enamel from your other teeth
- They do not have to be attached to your adjacent teeth.
- They have an outstanding track record for longevity
Broken Tooth that cannot be saved was replaced by an implant.
Veneers placed on other teeth to improve proportions and appearance.
Post treatment side view
Not all implants are alike - making your dental implants both function well and look natural requires planning, technical skill and an eye for detail.
Implants can look and perform great for many years if you take care of them like you do with your natural teeth … have regular checkups and practice good home care.
Just because you had a bridge or denture placed before does not necessarily mean that you can’t have implants now or in the future. Contact our office if you would like to schedule a time to discuss how implants can be used to help replace your missing teeth.
All of the procedure photos are of our actual patients.
Fixed Bridges supported by Natural Teeth
A bridge is a means of replacing a missing tooth or teeth by attaching the missing tooth to other teeth (or implants) that are adjacent to the space. They are often called “fixed” bridges or fixed partial dentures, because they are not designed to be removed from your mouth.
They can restore you to your prior appearance or possibly improve the appearance of your smile, depending on the situation. When completed, they should look like natural teeth and provide you with an excellent tooth replacement option for many years.
Bridges can be designed in a variety of ways. If you are interested in replacing missing teeth with a bridge, or would like to improve your appearance by upgrading from an existing bridge, call Drs. Steel to discuss your options.
Removable Appliances can be replaced with Implants or Fixed Bridges
Removable is generally not our first recommended option for most of our patients, but remains a viable way to replace missing teeth on a temporary or long-term basis for some situations. These appliances have been commonly referred to as “dentures” over the years if they are long-term and “flippers” for more temporary designs.
Dentures can either be full or partial, depending on whether or not they replace all of the teeth on one arch or just some teeth. Keep in mind, that most patients that have full or partial dentures could choose to eliminate the removable aspect in favor of fixed implants and/or bridges. In many cases, implants can also be used to help stabilize existing or new dentures and help prevent rocking while improving function.
Removable dentures (with or without implant support) are a good way to replace multiple missing teeth for some patients. Contact our office if you have any questions or would like to discuss your options for tooth replacement.
A beautiful smile could be a gateway to the best things in life
Finding your perfect job, meeting the perfect mate or just feeling good when you look in the mirror. Sometimes, it all starts with a great smile!