Tooth Replacement Options

You probably know that your teeth do more than just help you chew. They also help you speak and provide structural support for your face muscles. Living with missing teeth is not only uncomfortable and embarrassing, but did you know it can also affect your overall health? If not addressed, tooth loss leads to alveolar bone loss and then jawbone loss. This can eventually lead to the collapse of your face as well as the deterioration of your self-confidence.

But with advances in tooth replacement technologies, there’s no need to live with gaps left by your missing teeth for even one more day. Whether you’ve been ignoring a single gap in the back of your mouth or you’ve grown tired of the embarrassing slippage of your dentures, you have options.

At Town Center Dentistry, we have a bevy of world-class specialists ready and willing to help, using only top-of-the-line technology. Take a look at some of our tooth replacement options below.

Dental Implants

A single missing tooth or several missing teeth can be replaced with dental implants, which are posts that are surgically placed in the jaw and function as foundations for replacement teeth. During the healing process, the jawbone grows around the implants, making them strong, sturdy, and long lasting anchors.

The best candidates for dental implants are non-smokers with healthy gums and jawbone. The care required for dental implants is the same as for your natural teeth: regular brushing, flossing, and visits to the dentist.

At Town Center Dentistry, we use the highest quality Nobel Biocare implants to ensure that you experience a long lasting fit that feels so comfortable your replacement teeth feel like they are your own.

Fixed Bridges

If you’re looking for a non-surgical option for replacing one or more teeth, the fixed bridge might fit the bill. A bridge is used to fill the gap left by your missing teeth. The bridge is “fixed” (bonded) to the teeth on either side of the gap and can only be removed by your dentist.

During your first visit to Town Center Dentistry for the procedure, Dr. Eric Driver will prepare the attachment teeth on either side of the gap. Then, he will take an impression of your teeth and the space between and send it to the lab where your bridge will be created. In the meantime, Dr. Driver will place a temporary bridge while you wait for the permanent one. During your follow-up visit(s), he will fit, adjust, and cement your permanent bridge in place.

The fixed bridge will look and feel like your natural teeth, but will require special care to clean beneath the “pontic” (replacement tooth). This option is less expensive than dental implants, but more expensive than a removable bridge, and will require more than one visit.  

All-On-Four Dental Implants:

The All-On-Four Dental Implant surgery can replace a full set of teeth in one day.  While traditional dental implants use as many as 8 implants per arch and require multiple visits to the dentist, the All-On-Four concept has revolutionized tooth replacement, using only 4 implants per arch.

At Town Center Dentistry, under the expert care of Dr. Thomas Gonzales or Dr. Eric Driver, the All-On-Four surgery will take 2.5 hours per arch. While you are comfortable and sedated, the doctor will surgically place your Nobel Biocare implants and give you a fully functioning set of teeth. After the implants have had time to heal and fuse to your jawbone, you will receive your permanent replacement teeth.

The best candidates for the All-On-Four option are non-smokers with healthy gums and jawbones who are looking to restore a full set of teeth in one or both arches. Because the All-On-Four requires the same oral health maintenance as natural teeth, candidates must also be committed to regular brushing, flossing, and visits to the dentist.  

Let us give you back your smile

Whichever tooth replacement option you decide is best for you, at Town Center Dentistry in Rancho Bernardo, you will receive the highest standard of care from our experienced specialists. You can also expect a professional staff and an atmosphere of warmth, hospitality, and comfort every step of the way.

Still not sure which tooth replacement option will work best for you? We’re here to help. Give us a call. We’ll schedule a consultation, and get you on your way to your healthiest, happiest smile.