Options for missing teeth

       Missing some or all of your teeth? You are not alone.  Nearly every American will lose at least one of their functional teeth in their lifetime. People lose teeth for many different reasons. Many times the tooth is too decayed or gum disease is so advanced that the tooth cannot be saved. In addition, teeth can catastrophically fracture especially if the tooth had a large silver-mercury filling, root canal and a post. are-infected root canals is another major source of tooth loss.  Dr. Shvartsman has found that the key to preventing tooth loss is regular dental check-ups. Early intervention has proven to maintain teeth longer and with less discomfort and lower cost.

Not replacing missing teeth can pose several problems. If the tooth is in the visible zone, the gap can become a source of embarrassment. Many people stop smiling and some avoid interacting with people. When the back chewing teeth are missing the person usually begins to favor the side with the most teeth leading to unbalanced tooth wear and TMJ problems. Missing teeth can cause surrounding teeth to shift or tip into the gap. This domino effect can eventually lead to an unbalanced bite as well as new gaps forming throughout the mouth causing food impaction that can lead to gum disease and tooth decay. Given enough time, the adjacent teeth can drift so much that it becomes nearly impossible to restore the missing tooth leaving the person a dental cripple. In addition, inability to chew properly can lead to a variety of digestive problems, which will adversely affect your overall health.
 
     Fortunately, there are several ways to restore missing teeth. This can be done with removable dentures or appliances, bridges or dental implants.
 
     Removable dentures or appliances are the least expensive method of replacing missing teeth. The trouble with removable dentures is that as you eat, food will constantly get underneath them. Painful gum ulcers under the denture are also a common occurrence. Being a removable appliance, a denture can move around or be loose. Many patients live in fear of their dentures popping out during speech or eating. Partial dentures are hooked onto existing teeth via clasps. Traditional metal clasps can be unsightly. Flexible plastic non-metal clasps are available, but they loosen up and unlike metal clasps, are impossible to adjust, requiring frequent denture remakes, which can get costly over time.
 
      A bridge is a non-removable alternative to a denture. The teeth on either side of the missing tooth are drilled down to stumps so that a traditional crown can be placed. A fake tooth is welded in between the two crowns. It hangs in mid air between the two crowns, thus a “bridge”. The problem with a bridge is that usually healthy teeth that did not otherwise need any dental work need to be drilled down and mutilated so that a bridge can be made. Food can still get caught under the fake tooth requiring difficult flossing methods. The adjacent teeth now have to take up the load of the missing tooth. These additional forces can eventually lead to these teeth snapping or breaking, especially if they had root canal treatment. Since a bridge usually needs replacement every 5-10 years, the person is committed to a lifetime of replacement and maintenance, not to mention expense.
 
     An alternative to a bridge or a denture is a dental implant. It is a complete tooth replacement. A titanium metal cylinder is used as the root replacement. The titanium is so biocompatible that the bone actually fuses to it allowing us to use it as a tooth root replacement. Dental implants in their current form have been used for over 55 years with success rates over 90%. Once the healing is complete, usually 3-4 months, a post is attached to the titanium root and a crown is made to fit the post. The result is a free-standing tooth replacement that looks, feels and chews like your own natural teeth. Dental implants are considered by most dentists the standard of care in tooth replacement today and most will last a lifetime! One of the main advantages of dental implants is that unlike teeth, dental implants will never get a cavity. Decay is the number one reason fillings or crowns need replacement and are the second major cause of tooth loss today.  With today’s modern technology the days of major surgery, hospitalization, hours of surgery and major swelling can be a thing of the past. With Dr. Shvartsman, dental implants can be placed with a gentle, minimally invasive “thought the gum” surgical procedure. By using digital his Galileos 3-D x-ray guided surgery the implant placement is accurate, safe, predictable and fast with little or no post-op swelling or pain. Many patients have returned to work day after having their dental implants placed.
In addition to their use for single tooth replacement Dental Implants can be used in a bridge configuration to restore many missing teeth in a row. Dr. Shvartsman can restore an entire arch with as little as 4-8 implants. Dental Implants can also be used to help secure a wobbly or loose removable denture. As little as 2 dental implants are needed. Clips are attached to both the denture and implants allowing for increased retention, stability and peace of mind. Many denture wearers can now bite into an apple or enjoy corn on the cob. In many situations the original denture can be retrofitted with clips, saving people time and money.
Dr. Alex Shvartsman has completed a two- year Fellowship in Dental Implants and Advanced Prosthetic Dentistry at the prestigious Long Island NSUH-LIJ Dental Program. Their advanced training has enabled them to help many people with complex restorative dental implant procedures. In fact, many local implant surgeons and dentists not comfortable with implant dentistry refer many of their patients as well as their family to Dr. Shvartsman  to complete the restorative portion of dental implant treatment.
 
Feel free to schedule a comprehensive examination to see if you are a candidate for denal implants by calling (631)361-3577
 
 
 

 

 

 

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