Prosthodontics | Implants

Why should missing teeth be replaced?

Teeth are often lost due to various reasons. Even if other healthy teeth are remaining, if teeth are not replaced adjacent teeth tend to drift and tilt into the empty space.

Also the opposing teeth erupts further to close the space making it impossible to replace the teeth at a future date.

This tilting and eruption of remaining teeth leads to gum problems leading to weakness of remaining teeth eventually. Replacing missing teeth earliest prevents these problems.

Replacement of missing teeth for better aesthetics and function

What are the options to replace missing teeth?

Missing teeth can be replaced by one of the following ways:

• Removable dentures
• Crowns and bridges
• Dental implants

While implants and crowns and bridges are fixed options, dentures are removable. Which type of replacement suits you best is decided based on the status of your remaining natural teeth, gum health and remaining space.

What are dental implants?

A dental implant is a screw like device that takes anchorage from within bone. It is installed during a minor surgical procedure, painlessly under local anaesthesia, in the dental clinic itself. Implants are permanent fixtures which can be used to replace from a single teeth to the entire set of teeth.

Dental implants form the best replacement option for missing teeth primarily because they resemble a natural teeth most closely. And also because it is completely independent of adjacent natural teeth.

Full mouth lower rehabilitation with implants

How long does it take for dental implant placement?

For dental implants to be successful they need to completely integrate with bone. This process usually takes 1-6 months after implant placement, during which time a removable denture is used.

What is immediate dental implants?

If a tooth extraction is planned and enough bone is available an immediate dental implant can be placed right after tooth extraction. This Improves implant healing and integration.

At Gupta dental clinic, we are associated with world class dental brands such as Nobel Biocare, Osstem, Straumann.

What are crowns and bridges?

Crown/tooth cap is a permanent fixed restoration that covers the tooth and protects it from breakdown. They look like natural teeth and help in grinding.

When replacing one or more missing teeth, artificial teeth are joined to nearby natural teeth or dental implants with the help of a fixed bridge. Bridge is a unit of multiple crowns joined together, so that the missing teeth and nearby natural teeth become one segment. Thereby, the gap is filled with a fixed artificial tooth.

Types of crowns/bridges are as all-ceramic (zirconia), metal-ceramic and metal crowns.

• Full ceramic crowns / metal-free crowns are highly aesthetic and tooth like. eg. E-max crowns.
• Metal-ceramic crowns have metal on the inside with tooth coloured ceramic layer outside.
• Metal crowns are made primarily of base metal, but can also be fabricated with gold. Colour of base metal crowns is silver, so it is not suited for front teeth.

Any active disease such as caries or periodontal disease is always treated before replacement.

What is full mouth reconstruction?

Full mouth reconstruction refers to replacing all of the teeth in the mouth. Full mouth reconstructions combine aesthetics with the science of restorative dentistry to improve health and function of mouth, and beauty of the face. It is done with a combination of various treatments including implants, crowns and bridges, filings etc.

Full mouth reconstruction is needed when there are multiple caries, missing or broken teeth, extensive fillings or post-chemotherapy. It is also done to restore vertical height in excessively worn down teeth. When extensive teeth are lost, the jaws tend to over close leading to TMJ joint problems. Correcting the bite and restoring the vertical height of the face back, relieves the pain and discomfort and prevents long lasting damage to the joints.

Full mouth reconstruction is also done when the teeth are not aligned well or if patient is not happy with the shape and size of the teeth. Smile designing analysis is done and crowns are fabricated accordingly for a better and a beautiful smile.

What are dentures?

Dentures are removable false teeth made of acrylic that replaces the missing teeth. Gaps left by missing teeth cause problems with eating and speech, and teeth either side of the gap grows into the space when left untreated for long time.

Depending on the number of teeth missing, either a complete denture or a partial denture will be fitted. Neverthless, they immediately improve the appearance of your smile and function.

The denture is usually fabricated as soon as your teeth are removed, which means you won’t be without teeth. The denture will fit snugly over your gums and jawbone. Occasionally, gums are left to heal and alter in shape for a month before dentures can be fitted.