Implant Dentistry
Calgary, Alberta
Dental Implants
Missing Teeth
Tooth loss is a regrettable, but largely preventable situation. Missing teeth not only affect your appearance, missing teeth can affect your overall oral health as well. It is a well-known fact that the loss of one tooth makes the teeth around it more susceptible to loss as well. There are several options dentist Dr. Chee has to help you replace missing teeth in order to stop additional tooth loss and return your smile to what it once was.
Causes of Missing Teeth
The leading causes of tooth loss are poor oral hygiene and failure to visit your dentist on a regular basis. Neglecting the routine brushing, flossing, and annual visits will eventually lead to problems with your teeth and eventually tooth loss. Some of the leading causes of missing teeth are:
- Decay
- Gum disease
- Disease
- Trauma
Damaged teeth, when treated immediately can be saved in many cases. You should let Dr. Chee know right away so that steps to save the tooth can be taken. People with diabetes and other diseases that contribute to tooth loss should be more diligent in their care and regular check ups.
Dental Bridges
Once a tooth goes missing, Dr. Chee has a number of options to help correct the situation and prevent additional tooth loss. One option is a dental bridge. With this option, the teeth surrounding the gap left by the tooth are prepared and capped with a supporting crown. A bridge piece, or pontic, is fitted between these two supports, filling the gap where the missing tooth or teeth were.
Depending on the number of pontics that are necessary to fill then edentulous area, additional teeth may be needed for the abutments, or bridge supports. Dr. Chee will evaluate exactly how many teeth will need to be crowned to support the pontic tooth structures.
Dental Implants
Depending on your specific needs, Dr. Chee may elect dental implants instead of a bridge. Implants are used to replace each individual tooth. A titanium post is inserted into the bone, replacing the normal root structure of the tooth. One of two types of tops is placed on the post:
- Cement crown
- Fixed crown
Eventually, the bone will grow around the titanium post, creating a firm foundation in the bone. Active use of the teeth will strengthen the underlying bone structure, which in turn strengthens the foundation of adjacent teeth.
To find out more about replacing missing teeth, please contact Dr. Chee at Aesthetic Dental Studio. The dentist will evaluate your mouth and help you restore your missing tooth or teeth in the manner best suited to your needs. Serving all implant dentistry patients in Calgary, Alberta and Airdrie.
