Pro football player and now television celebrity Michael Strahan sports a huge gap between his front teeth that has become a trademark for him. And while Michael can carry this off, most normal people feel self-conscious when they have large gaps or missing teeth. Missing teeth can cause gaps in the remaining teeth. Not only can missing teeth realign remaining teeth in unattractive ways, they can also cause problems with chewing, leading some to nutritional deficiencies. Additionally, tooth loss commonly causes loss of bone density and gum tissue.
There are several options when missing teeth become a problem – and it’s not an uncommon problem. According to the American Dental Association, the average adult between the ages of 20 and 64 has three or more decayed or missing teeth. When addressing missing teeth, you and your periodontist may have several choices, depending on your situation.
Are Implants Right For You?
Many patients choose dental implants when deciding how to approach missing teeth. Implants are not an option for everybody, but when they are, there are numerous benefits. Some of those advantages include:
- Most similar to a natural tooth
- Implants can last for many years
- Implants may help prevent tissue and bone loss and shrinkage
When looking at replacing dentures or for full lower and/or upper dental restoration, technological advances have come a long way. In the past, implant dentistry required a months-long time commitment from start to finish. With the advent of the All-On-4 implant replacement procedure, time and cost can be reduced.
What is All-On-4?
All-On-4 is typically for patients who are about to lose most or all of their adult teeth or already have lost them. Because of the numerous advantages of the procedure, many dental restoration professionals now recommend All-On-4 over traditional dental implant techniques and dentures. Patients who currently use dentures could be candidates for the procedure, as well.
The All-On-4 procedure has many advantages over traditional implant techniques, including:
- Only requires four implants per jaw (as opposed to 6, 8 or even 10)
- Only requires a single surgery and can be completed in one day
- Typically avoids bone grafting surgery
- Has a much higher success rate
- Saves patients significantly on the cost of oral rehabilitation
- Immediate function
- Permanently fixed – no more anesthetic gels, soaking solutions, messy adhesives and other denture products
- Eat what you want!
It's important when thinking about restorative dentistry and implants to pick qualified, experienced dental restoration specialists. Dr. Maller and Dr. Stalker are leaders in the field of both upper and lower missing teeth restorations. Contact San Antonio Periodontics and Implants today for a consultation on the best options for you.