The New Year is here. Will 2018 bring yet another twelve months of hiding your smile, feeling self-conscious, avoiding social situations, and coming across as timid on dates and in job interviews?
Or will you resolve to make your smile whole again and change your life? Your smile is one of the first things people notice when they meet you. It says volumes about your personality, friendliness, and self-esteem. It is a critical piece of that all-important first impression.
At Aberdeen Smiles, we have tooth-replacement options for one teeth, a few teeth, or an entire arch. We can work with a range of budgets. But quite frankly, this is an investment that will pay off handsomely in the long run. An easy, confident smile? Priceless.
To book a consultation, call our Aberdeen, SD office at 605-277-9049.
An Intact Smile Is a Healthier Smile
Replacing missing teeth is not just a matter of improving your appearance and boosting self-confidence (although those are important benefits). Gaps in your grin may affect your health as well.
- Your teeth support the muscles and skin of the face. If a tooth is missing, the tissues may sag, resulting in an aged, sunken appearance.
- When there’s a gap that shouldn’t be there, the surrounding healthy teeth may start to shift and become crooked and misaligned. This can make it difficult to clean the teeth properly, leading to tooth decay.
- An incomplete smile can make it difficult to chew properly and speak clearly. Some people may limit their diet due to chewing problems and not receive adequate nutrition.
- The jawbone relies on biting force to maintain its strength. If there’s a tooth missing, it may deteriorate. Dental implants are especially effective in preventing bone loss.
Dental Implants
The first titanium dental implant was placed in a person’s jaw in 1965. Since then, dental implants have supplanted bridges and dentures as the gold standard of artificial teeth. That’s because a dental implant recreates not just the crown, or visible portion of the tooth, but rather the entire structure down to the root. It is a titanium post that Dr. Drake or Dr. Fettig will surgically insert into your jawbone. As you heal from the procedure, bone will grow around the implant and secure it permanently in place. One of our doctors will then attach an abutment or other connector and, finally, a beautiful and lifelike restoration.
There are a few things that set dental implants apart from other replacement teeth:
- They look like real teeth, feel like real teeth, and function like real teeth. They are securely anchored in your mouth, and you will get the full strength of your bite back.
- Unlike with restorations that sit on top of your gums, your biting force goes into the jawbone. This provides necessary stimulation and prevents bone loss.
- When you get a dental bridge, adjoining teeth will be ground down and topped with a crown to provide support. A dental implant requires no alteration of healthy teeth.
- Unlike dentures, dental implants pose no risk of sliding, shifting, or falling out of your mouth.
- Dental implants require no messy dental adhesives to stay put.
- Since dental implant structure mimics that of your real teeth, they will not interfere with eating and speaking.
- No avoiding certain foods — eat what you want. Yay!
Dental Implant Options at Aberdeen Smiles
At our Aberdeen, SD dental office, we have dental implant options for whether you’re missing one tooth or many.
- Single dental implant: if you are missing one tooth, we will fit you with an individual dental implant topped with a crown.
- All-on-4® dental implants replace a full arch of teeth with only four dental implants. The posts are placed at an angle to maximize stability, and the procedure is appropriate even for patients who have suffered bone loss. Another benefit is that you will receive your replacement teeth the very same day!
- All-on-6 is much like All-on-4, but uses six dental implants for added support.
- An implant-supported denture is another way to replace an arch of teeth. We use a bar attachment to connect a denture to a few dental implants.
- An implant-retained denture uses a ball attachment rather than the bar attachment of an implant-supported denture.
- Mini dental implants are an excellent option for people who don’t have the bone mass to support conventional dental implants. These small dental implants are less expensive, require a less invasive procedure, and heal more quickly. You can get your replacement teeth the same day as the initial surgery.
Of course, modern bridges and dentures remain an excellent option for many. They are better fitting and more comfortable than their predecessors and look just like real teeth. At Aberdeen Smiles, we offer these in addition to dental implants.
To begin the process of making your smile whole again, request an appointment through our online form. Or call our Aberdeen, SD office at 605-277-9049.