What if you have too many gaps for a bridge to address, but enough natural teeth that a full denture isn’t necessary? In these situations, you may actually need what is known as a partial denture. For additional stability, we could support one with multiple dental implants. In today’s blog, your Livonia, MI, dentist talks about our partial implant dentures.
The Impact of Complicated Tooth Loss
A complicated case of tooth loss is one that has missing teeth and gaps spread out across the smile, often on opposite sides of the smile. With these issues, a bridge may not be enough to adequately replace missing teeth, but you still have enough natural teeth that a complete denture isn’t necessary either. But not addressing these gaps could increase the risk of misalignment, TMJ disorder and bruxism, and even trouble eating and speaking clearly. Which is why treatment with a custom partial denture is so important.
Crafting Partial Prosthetics
To begin, we will thoroughly examine your smile to assess the cause and severity of your tooth loss. We may treat any underlying oral health issues, like gum disease, before we move forward with replacement. We will also see if any teeth are decayed or infected enough to require extraction. Next, we take detailed digital images of your smile with advanced technology, combining the images to create a 3D computer model, one that is far more precise and accurate than a traditional physical one. In a lab setting, the prosthetic will be crafted based on these images and impressions. The denture will contain an acrylic base that looks like gum tissue, and lifelike ceramic teeth placed into it. These will blend with your smile and also provide a durable chewing surface.
Support with Implant Dentistry
The dental implants will act as new roots, so we will insert multiple ones into the jaw at specific angles and positions. They then bond with the jawbone through osseointegration, giving them the potential to last for decades to come. We then connect abutments to them and attach the prosthetic. This means a full and healthy smile, one that looks great and is durable as well. They will never slip, and will be fixed in place, so you don’t have to take them out for cleaning or soaking.
If you have any questions about addressing missing teeth with implant dentistry, whether you have one lost tooth or several, then contact our team today to learn more.
Do You Have Any Questions About Our Prosthetics?
Our team wants to help you enjoy a complete smile again. To learn more about supporting a custom-made dental prosthetic, then call James Stewart, DDS, dental implant office in Livonia, MI, at (734) 425-4400. We also serve the residents of Farmington, Plymouth, Dearborn Heights, and all surrounding communities.