We see thousands of patients a year suffering from loose dentures and missing teeth. Some of the problems they find are:
- They lack confidence in social/professional situations
- They avoid going out to eat with friends and family
- They can’t eat what they want
- Eating is often uncomfortable
- Ill-fitting dentures cause pain
Many patients often tell us that they have even been experiencing these issues for a lifetime and what they find after having treatment is that their lives are transformed. They suddenly become more outgoing, happy, and enjoy a much better quality of life. The most common thing patients say after having the treatment is that they wished they had it done sooner and why someone didn’t tell them about it.
So what options are available to you?
When you have missing teeth, there are three ways in which the missing gap can be filled:
- Implant
This is the best option, as it doesn’t cause damage to other teeth, is fixed in place, has the longest survival rate, and highest success rate.
- Bridge
A bridge is a fixed tooth restoration that is held in place by cementing it onto your other teeth. The teeth directly next to your gap need to be good strong teeth (i.e. not loose or not heavily filled). Bridges can last a fair amount of time, but a lot of things need to be perfect to get a good result. Often, a bridge has a big disadvantage – your teeth will need to be ground down (sometimes quite a lot) for the bridge to work. The removal of healthy tooth causes damage to teeth as it makes them weaker and it can also lead to infection of the tooth. Although a bridge is possible in many situations, it is often not the preferred option due to the negative outcomes.
- Dentures
Dentures are a removable option to replace missing teeth. They work well when you have multiple missing teeth that are widely distributed throughout the arch. The big disadvantage is that they are removable and you need to take them out a night-time. Because they are a removable option, you will always get a little bit of movement with them, especially when eating.
Which option is the best for me?
This question depends upon a lot of factor such as:
- What outcome you want to achieve
- Your expectations
- The shape of your mouth
- The shape of your bone
- The quality and quantity of your bone
- Your oral hygiene
- How many teeth are missing
- Distribution of missing teeth
- How much tooth you show when smiling
- Medical history
- The condition of your gums
- Your bite
- The shape of your face
- Your age
- The condition of your teeth
- Your psychology
These are just some of the factors that can influence which option you decide to go for. No two people will be exactly the same, so it’s important to speak to your dentist so that they can provide you with all the information. It is then up to you to decide what is best for you. At The Denture and Implant Clinic, we spend at least one hour discussing all the factors so that you can rest assured that you are making the correct choice.
If you would like to get FREE advice, we would be delighted to help. Please call our friendly reception team on 020 8629 1226.
