The Why’s and How’s of Replacing Missing Teeth

If there’s one thing you need to know about missing teeth it is that they should always be replaced. Any dentist worth their sault will tell you the same thing. Not doing so will risks your oral and general health.

Tooth loss isn’t just an issue for the over-65 generation. It can affect anyone, at any time in life, and can be caused by accident and injury as well as by dental decay and gum disease. Whatever the cause of your tooth loss, you should see a dentist as soon as possible. They will treat underlying health conditions first before discussing tooth replacement options.

At PDC Dental Implants in Barnsley, dental implants are the preferred solution to missing teeth. They are the only permanent way to restore your smile and your oral health, and also the only way a dentist can replace the roots of the teeth. This is important both to holding new teeth securely in your mouth, and to keeping your jaw bone strong and health.

When the jaw bone starts to resorb, your entire facial structure can be altered, making you look older. It is also the principal cause of loose-fitting dentures, which can make it difficult to eat anything but soft foods, to speak clearly, and to socialise without fear and embarrassment about your teeth falling out unexpectedly.

There are several dental implant treatment options available, including a range of solutions for anyone who has already suffered bone loss. Implants can be used to stabilise your dentures, can support a bridge that replaces anything from a few to all of the teeth in one jaw, or a single implant and crown can replace a solitary missing tooth.

After a healing period, which is typically between three and six months, your permanent new teeth will be attached to abutments on top of your implants. In many ways this is like having a second chance at a full jaw of healthy adult teeth, because implant-retained teeth of any type look and act just like the real thing.

Life benefits include:

• Being able to eat what you want
• Being able to speak with confidence and clarity
• Enjoying your life without the worries caused by loose dentures