Questions

Tooth loss is a common problem among American adults. About half the population have lost at least one tooth, and 40 million are missing all their teeth. Many people who’ve suffered tooth loss and want to restore their oral health and their smile turn to a prosthodontist. And they typically have many questions about tooth replacement and prosthodontics in general, as Metropolitan Prosthodontics well know. If you’ve suffered tooth loss, or have dental damage, here are some questions you might want to ask your Plymouth prosthodontist.

What Is Prosthodontics?

Prosthodontics is the recognized dental specialty of aesthetic replacement and restoration of teeth. “Prostho” means replacement, and “dontics” means relating to teeth. Prosthodontists complete at least three years of extensive, specialized training in a program accredited by the American Dental Association (ADA).

Unlike general dentists, prosthodontists are recognized by the ADA as the experts in replacing teeth to optimize oral functionality and enhance appearance. Besides replacing teeth, prosthodontics also includes repair of damaged teeth, cosmetic dentistry, and facial surgery.

What Happens if Missing Teeth Aren’t Replaced?

Your Plymouth prosthodontist recommends that missing teeth should be replaced as soon as possible after losing them. This will not only restore your smile but also avoid common problems associated with tooth loss, such as:

Remaining Teeth Shifting Out of Place

When you lose a tooth, adjacent teeth start to drift into the gap, becoming crooked and more prone to damage. Eventually, you’ll notice misalignment of your bite – your upper and lower teeth not coming together properly. Crooked teeth also make effective brushing and flossing harder. This can result in a buildup of plaque on and around the teeth, leading to cavities or gum disease.

Jaw Pain

A further problem of misaligned remaining teeth is jaw joint pain. This happens because of added strain on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) when you speak and eat. This can result in TMJ disorder (TMJD), a painful condition that affects oral function as well as muscles in the face, neck, or shoulders.

Jawbone Deterioration

Bone in the jaw needs the stimulus of tooth roots to stay strong and healthy. When you lose a tooth, the absence of a root leads to bone loss, like muscle atrophies without use. Over time, jawbone deterioration results in prematurely aging facial appearance and can cause additional tooth loss.

Eating Difficulties

When you’ve lost teeth, eating becomes more difficult. This can result in avoiding foods that are good for you, such as crunchy vegetables. If you limit your diet this way for too long, you may not get the nutrients your body needs to stay healthy.

Psychological Issues

Tooth loss can impact your mental health as well as oral health. Science tells us that smiling makes you feel good. It releases endorphins – feel-good hormones. Embarrassment over tooth loss often results in reluctance to smile, low self-esteem, and a decline in social activities.

What Are My Options to Replace Missing Teeth?

Our Plymouth prosthodontists use various dental prostheses to replace teeth. Some are removable, and others are fixed permanently in the mouth. These options include:

Dental Implants

The gold standard of tooth replacement, dental implants are unique in prosthodontics in replacing the tooth root, below the gum, as well as the crown – the part of the tooth visible above the gum line. This is important because, as we’ve seen, jawbone needs the stimulus of a tooth root. If you’re missing a single tooth, an implant can be used as a permanent solution with a dental crown. If you’ve lost more teeth, implants can anchor a bridge or denture.

Dentures

A removable denture can replace all or several upper or lower teeth. Standard dentures are held in place by suction, sometimes with the help of dental adhesive. Dentures can also be attached to implants for greater stability. Our prosthodontists in Plymouth have their own in-house denture lab to make dentures. This avoids sending molds to an external lab for fabrication. It streamlines the process and patients get their dentures faster.

Dental Bridges

As its name suggests, a dental bridge fills the gap caused by loss of a single tooth or a section of teeth. Unlike removable dentures, a bridge is fixed permanently in place, which avoids having to continually take out dentures for cleaning and soaking. Standard dental bridges are supported by crowns placed on teeth either side of the gap. Alternatively, a bridge can be supported by implants.

How Do Prosthodontists Repair Teeth?

Besides providing dental prostheses, Metropolitan Prosthodontics repairs damaged teeth with restorative dentistry procedures such as:

  • Fillings. White, composite fillings prevent further tooth decay, restore functionality, and look natural.
  • Dental Crowns. As well as being used with bridges and implants, a crown can repair and strengthen a decayed or otherwise damaged tooth when a filling would be insufficient.
  • Root Canal Treatment. A root canal can save a tooth from extraction by repairing damage due to deep infection.

What Cosmetic Services Do Prosthodontists Offer?

Your Plymouth prosthodontists provide cosmetic dental treatments including:

  • Teeth Whitening. Teeth whitening by a dental professional is safer, faster, and more effective than over-the-counter DIY teeth bleaching kits.
  • Dental Veneers. Custom dental veneers transform smiles by enhancing the shape, size and color of teeth that are chipped or severely stained.
  • Dental Bonding. Tooth bonding with composite resin provides a simpler, less costly cosmetic treatment than veneers.

What Types of Surgery Do Prosthodontists Perform?

Your Plymouth prosthodontist performs oral and maxillofacial surgery in cases of disease or irregularities of the mouth, face, jaw, or neck.

These procedures include:

  • Corrective jaw surgery.
  • Cleft palate surgery.
  • Repairing fractured facial bones.
  • TMJ surgery to treat a severe temporomandibular joint disorder.
  • Surgical extraction of impacted wisdom teeth.

What Sets Metropolitan Prosthodontics Apart?

Metropolitan Prosthodontics is committed to the highest standards of dental care. We combine the latest advances in dental technology and techniques with clinical expertise and personalized treatment. Our Plymouth prosthodontists work in a patient-friendly dental office and establish enduring relationships with patients. We also work with general dentists and other dental specialists to help patients maintain your new smile over the years to come.

If you have further questions for your Plymouth prosthodontist, we’d be happy to hear from you. Contact us today!