Missing teeth are more than just a cosmetic dental concern. If left untreated, missing teeth can lead to severe dental health concerns. Addressing missing teeth immediately is essential to restoring natural function, health, and beauty. Replacing missing teeth in Washington, DC, can prevent further damage and improve your confidence and oral health.
Our team at DC Precision Dentistry offers a full range of tooth replacement options. State-of-the-art dental technology and cutting-edge materials ensure high-quality treatment. Washington, DC dentist Dr. Justin Deckard may recommend dentures, dental bridges, or dental implants to restore missing teeth.
The Importance of Replacing Missing Teeth in Washington, DC
If you have missing teeth, you should replace them as soon as possible. Otherwise, it can lead to a wide range of severe oral health concerns. When one tooth is missing, the remaining teeth begin to shift in an attempt to fill the gap. Shifting teeth affects not only the appearance but also the bite’s function.
Studies have suggested missing teeth patients are at a higher risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Lost teeth can lead to infection and further tooth loss. Missing teeth may even affect the way you chew and speak. Patients with missing teeth have difficulty chewing, which may result in an imbalanced diet and other complications.
Tooth Replacement Options
Replacing missing teeth can help restore confidence and function to your natural smile. Dr. Deckard offers a full range of tooth replacement options and can tailor these options to meet your oral health and aesthetic needs. He will analyze your teeth, gums, and jaw and assess your oral health. Then, he will determine if a dental implant, dental bridge, or dentures are the right choice for you.
- Dental Implants: Implants are titanium posts that we can place in the jaw bone. Dental implants can secure single dental crowns, bridges, or dentures. Because implants act as artificial tooth roots, they help restorations last longer. While implants may require preparation and longer treatment times than other restorations, they are permanent. Your implants will stay in your mouth as long as you care for your oral health.
- Bridges: Dental bridges restore consecutive missing teeth. They usually use support from crown-capped teeth or dental implants to secure false teeth. Traditional bridges require tooth preparation to place dental crowns. Alternatively, patients with naturally healthy teeth may benefit from implant bridges to avoid this preparation.
- Dentures: Partial dentures restore multiple lost teeth along a tooth arch. Complete dentures replace full missing tooth arches. Traditional dentures use adhesive to stay in place. However, removable dentures can slip around the mouth. Dental implant-supported dentures offer durability and increased bite function.
Missing Teeth FAQs
Do you want to learn more about missing teeth problems and treatments? Read answers to commonly asked questions about missing teeth below:
Can a missing tooth impact my face?
Even if you only miss one tooth, it can still impact your face. When the tooth root is missing, your jawbone starts to deteriorate. This leads to the appearance of a sagging face, which worsens with time.
What happens if I don’t replace my missing tooth?
Even one missing tooth can have a lot of consequences. First, you have aesthetic issues. You may not want to show your smile off when missing a tooth. It also leads to facial sagging over time. There are many health impacts, too.
Your other teeth will try to fill in the gap and become crooked. This can impact your bite, leading to issues with TMJ and increasing the likelihood of chipped or cracked teeth. Your remaining teeth are also more likely to suffer from tooth decay and gum disease.
What are my options to replace my missing teeth?
Dental implants are the gold standard of tooth replacement. They are the only tooth replacement solution that can also replace your tooth root. Dental bridges and dentures are also available. Dr. Deckard will complete an evaluation to determine the best option for you. He will consider your oral health needs, budget, and the number of teeth you must replace.
What are the most commonly missing teeth?
The most commonly missing teeth are the wisdom teeth (third molars). Dentists usually have to remove these teeth for crowding or impaction. The next most commonly missing teeth are the lower second premolars and the upper lateral incisors. These teeth are often missing due to genetic factors, where they don’t develop. Teeth affected by disease and decay may require a professional extraction and replacement.
Can missing teeth cause digestive problems?
Yes, missing teeth can cause digestive problems. When teeth are missing, chewing food can be more difficult, and larger pieces of food end up in the stomach.
In addition, your digestive system will be unable to fully break down food with stomach acids. Consequently, your intestines may not fully absorb the nutrients from foods. This can cause bloating and indigestion. Above all, managing missing teeth with dental treatments like dentures, bridges, or dental implants is essential.
Can you use porcelain veneers for missing teeth?
Porcelain veneers aren’t a solution for missing teeth. Dentists use veneers to enhance existing teeth, not replace absent ones. So when a tooth is missing altogether, dental veneers won’t help.
Instead, dentists and oral surgeons use solutions like dental implants, dental bridges, or partial dentures to fill missing tooth gaps. Dental implants offer a comprehensive solution because they replicate the visible part of the tooth and its root. Bridges and dentures can also restore rows or arches of teeth.
Restore Permanent Lost Teeth
We encourage patients with missing teeth to visit DC Precision Dentistry in Washington, DC. Our dental office is accessible to neighborhoods like Shaw and the DC Navy Yard.
If you are missing one or more teeth, schedule an appointment with Dr. Deckard. To schedule an appointment, call (202) 851-7554 or request an appointment online. You can contact our office for restorative care, whether you have a single lost tooth or all of your teeth missing.