Tooth loss is much more common than you might think; over 140 million Americans are missing at least one permanent tooth. Many don’t even have teeth at all! If you’re suffering from an incomplete smile, our team at Derby Dental would love to change that. Dr. Whitehouse and Dr. Kilkelly offer several options for replacing missing teeth and helping you smile to the fullest again. Contact us to schedule a consultation to discuss options for replacing missing teeth in our Austin, TX dental office and find out which solution is right for you!
Dental implants are a permanent replacement option for single teeth, multiple teeth, or all the teeth. In fact, implants are the most reliable long-term option when properly maintained. This multi-step procedure involves total integration of the implant to a patient’s jaw, which typically takes several months of healing. Once complete healing has taken place, the replacement tooth or teeth are permanently screwed into the implant.
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A dental bridge can bring back a single tooth or even two or three teeth in a row. It consists of a series of dental crowns that are fused together, with the crowns on either end being anchored to the natural teeth at each end of the empty space in your grin. The crowns in between can then literally “bridge” the gap, restoring the full function and appearance of your smile. Dental bridges can also be secured onto dental implants for extra stability.
Dentures can be a temporary or permanent removable option to replace missing teeth. They can aid in restoring a patient’s bite, smile, and facial support close to that of natural teeth and gums. A denture needs more maintenance and repair than other options. We recommend seeing us twice a year, and bringing your denture with you to the appointment. We can clean and make necessary repairs at that time. Call us if sore spots develop or the appliance changes in fit.
For dental implants to be successful long-term, a patient must have enough healthy jawbone density to which the implants can fuse. Unfortunately, the jawbone often deteriorates after the roots of the natural teeth are lost. In this case, a patient may need a bone grafting procedure before implants can be placed. We can graft artificial or donor bone material onto a section of the jawbone. After a few months, it will have strengthened the jawbone so it can give dental implants the foundation they need to last for decades to come.