Your smile speaks volumes about you, especially during a first impression. Missing teeth can negatively affect your confidence in your smile, which can cause you to smile less often and less sincerely. Missing teeth can also cause a chain reaction of further tooth loss if not corrected. At Lake Orion Family Dentistry, Dr. Brad Greenfield has a number of options to bring your smile back to life after tooth loss.
Bridging the Gap
A bridge is a custom designed prosthetic that replaces one or more missing teeth in a row. If the two teeth adjacent to a missing tooth are healthy, Dr. Greenfield may recommend a dental bridge to fill the vacancy. These two healthy teeth are called abutment teeth. As a fixed appliance, a bridge is permanently attached to the abutment teeth.
Partial Dentures
Dentures are a time-honored method of restoring one’s smile to the strength and confidence it has lost. They look and feel like natural teeth, allowing you to eat the foods you want and smile as brightly as you once did. If you are missing multiple teeth that are not adjacent, or in a row, then you may be a perfect candidate for partial dentures. Similar to full dentures, partials fit in between existing teeth to close gaps created by lost teeth.
Full Dentures
If you are missing all of your teeth on the upper or lower arch of your gums, you may need a full set of dentures to fix the damage. Full dentures consist of a full set of replacement teeth on a gum-colored base, held in place by suction or adhesive cream
Implant-Supported Dentures
If your dentures feel loose or wobbly, ask Dr. Greenfield about implant-supported dentures. This reliable prosthetic device attaches to small implant posts, anchored in the jaw. You can simply snap the appliance in place; no suction or adhesive is required. Patients with implant-retained dentures report greater confidence, as well as more natural feel and function.
If you would like to learn more about restoring your smile, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Greenfield, call Lake Orion Family Dentistry in Lake Orion, Michigan, at (248) 693-6213. We welcome patients from Lake Orion, Oxford, Rochester Hills, Clarkston, and the surrounding communities.
