Millions of Americans—about 120 million actually—have lost at least one tooth, and more than 36 million have no natural teeth left at all. If you’re missing one or more teeth, you obviously aren’t alone. No matter how many teeth you’ve lost or how you lost them, you can regain a healthy smile with options to replace missing teeth in Leesburg, VA. Your dentist and the rest of our team at Downtown Family Dental of Leesburg can help you determine which option will best suit your needs. Contact us to schedule a consultation today!
Your life can change dramatically because of a single lost tooth, not just in how your smile looks, but also in how you bite, chew, and speak. Your remaining teeth can start to drift into the gap, altering your bite alignment and potentially causing additional tooth loss down the road. In addition, when a tooth’s root is no longer in position, the jawbone begins to deteriorate and change shape, creating a more aged appearance. If you have one or more missing teeth, it’s important to replace them so that you can avoid these negative outcomes.
Bridges are dental appliances that can replace a section of missing teeth in a row. There are several types of bridges. The most common is made of porcelain fused to metal and consists of crowns that go over anchor teeth (abutments) and are attached to artificial teeth (pontics) to fill in the space. This replacement option is very secure and helps to keep your remaining teeth in proper alignment.
Full and partial dentures are removable appliances for replacing missing teeth and the surrounding tissue. Artificial teeth, which look just like real ones thanks to modern materials and technology, are attached to a gum-colored acrylic base. The extent of your denture depends on the number of missing teeth. Partial dentures use remaining healthy teeth to stay securely in place. For total tooth loss, full dentures can provide an entire arch of prosthetic teeth that rely on suction and adhesives to remain stable.
One of the biggest advances in dentistry is the placement of artificial roots (implants) to replace missing teeth. These serve as anchors to which a single crown, bridge, or denture can be attached, meeting any replacement need. Dental implants are usually made of titanium and typically provide a long-term restorative treatment option. Our dentists have the training and experience to handle the placement procedure right here in our Leesburg dental office, helping you save time and effort.