During your course of treatment, it may be determined that you need to have a tooth removed for any number of reasons. Some teeth are extracted because they are severely decayed. Others may have advanced periodontal disease, or they may have broken in a way that cannot be repaired. Some teeth may also need to be removed in preparation for orthodontic treatment.

In most cases, removing a tooth is a last resort solution and one that we consider and discuss with you very carefully to ensure there is no way to preserve your tooth.

Sometimes the removal of a single tooth can lead to problems related to your chewing ability, problems with your jaw joint, and shifting teeth, which can then have a major impact on your dental health. To avoid these complications, in most cases, we will discuss alternatives to extractions as well replacement of the extracted tooth.

All of your teeth are important for speaking, chewing, and maintaining proper alignment of other teeth. Tooth loss doesn’t necessarily have to occur as you age, but if you do lose teeth they must be replaced to maintain proper function of your mouth.

Fortunately, there are options for correcting tooth loss. A bridge bonds artificial teeth to adjacent natural teeth, called abutment teeth. Bridges are permanently fixed in the mouth and can be used to fill gaps between teeth and to restore broken teeth.

Bridges are great choices for restoring your dental health and the appearance of your smile! Ask us about how our expertise in bridges and other teeth replacement devices can help you.

A denture, or a complete denture as it is often called, is an appliance that is inserted in the mouth. It replaces natural teeth, and provides support for the cheeks and lips. Dentures are made of acrylic and can be fabricated two different ways.

A conventional denture is made after all teeth have been extracted and the tissues (gums and bone) have healed.

An immediate denture is fabricated before the teeth are removed and inserted immediately after the teeth are extracted. Then the tissues are allowed to heal under the denture. This is followed by relining the denture after healing occurs.

A complete denture may also be attached to dental implants to provide an extremely secure fit for the appliance. Over a normal course of time, dentures will wear and need to be replaced or relined as the bone and gum ridges recede.

Regular dentist examinations are still important for the denture wearer so that the oral tissues can be checked for disease or change.

Partial dentures are similar to complete dentures in that they are removable and replace missing teeth. They attach to remaining natural teeth to provide a secure fit.

Our experience helps us understand the intricate sensitivities associated with wearing dentures. We know how to properly size and fit dentures to help our patients feel comfortable.

Dental implants have become the standard of care for replacing missing teeth. Whether you are missing one tooth or all of your teeth, dental implants provide an excellent restorative choice for long-term success and esthetics.

Missing teeth can cause defects in the bone, bite changes and chewing difficulty, excessive wear on remaining teeth, and damage to the jaw joint or TMJ. Missing teeth can also affect one’s self esteem and alter facial appearance.

Implants function like a substitute tooth root. They bond with the bone to form a stable foundation for permanent replacement teeth that look, feel, and function like natural teeth. Once the implant is secure, they can be used to replace one or more missing teeth.

Dental implants can also increase the stability of an ill-fitting denture, reducing your discomfort while improving your appearance and self-confidence.