Do you know the saying “You don’t know what you have until you’ve lost it?” Well, that also goes for your set of pearly whites. Teeth help you carry out countless daily functions that are crucial to your health and wellness, like eating, speaking, laughing, kissing, and the list goes on. When one, multiple, or all of your teeth go missing due to oral health problems or trauma, it’s crucial to have them replaced before they take a serious toll on your confidence and mental and physical health. Below, you can find three versatile solutions to replace missing teeth in Mankato, MN at Hyland Dental.
Dental bridges are a prosthetic made from customized dental crowns and free-standing replacement teeth, called pontics. The crowns act as an anchor to hold the bridge in place by being placed on the existing teeth at either end of a space in your smile, while the pontics fill that gap in, completing your arch of teeth. They can be made from a variety of materials, including porcelain and ceramic, and can last for over a decade with the proper maintenance.
Learn More About Dental Bridges
For patients who are missing several or all of their teeth along an arch, dentures are a tried-and-true tooth replacement option that can restore the function and feeling of the mouth. They’re made from a gum-colored acrylic base that holds ceramic, custom color-matched teeth in place. Depending on whether you receive full or partial dentures, they will either stay in place by harnessing natural suction in the mouth or fit between your existing natural teeth.
Dental implants are a more modern, advanced tooth replacement option that’s great for patients who are looking for a more stable, permanent alternative to traditional bridges and dentures. The implants are surgically placed below the gumline to restore the missing root structure of the teeth and hold a prosthetic in place. Due to their biocompatible properties, they’re able to offer a wide array of unique benefits, including the prevention of jawbone deterioration and preservation of your natural facial structure.