When you lose teeth, you have problems, and you have options. In fact, you have more than one option when it comes to replacing those missing teeth. Partial dentures are one of these options. Partial dentures are held in your mouth by clasps or special attachments. Depending on the type of partial you get, your supporting teeth need only minimal preparation.

One advantage to partial dentures is they are completely removable. This makes them easier to clean and lets you sleep without them. Nevertheless, there are also some problems that go along with them.

In order to make a truly intelligent decision about which option is best for you, you need to talk to a Houston cosmetic dentist here at the Medical Center Dental Group. We can help guide in making the right choices for alternative forms of tooth replacements which include the following:

• A bridge
• Dental Implants
• Delaying treatment until you have more money

Let’s talk about delaying treatment first.Almost every patient procrastinates to some degree about tooth replacement. This is understandable. Even the most affordable cosmetic tooth replacements—partial dentures—cost money. Money can be hard to come by at times and people often ask us if it will hurt them to wait just a bit longer until they can afford to pay for dental care.

We tell them it will hurt them both medically and financially in the long run.

This is because missing teeth require immediate action. All teeth work in relationship to one another When one or more teeth are lost, surrounding teeth begin to shift. This can cause a variety of dental problems, including bite and alignment problems.

Also, the jawbone starts to shrink now that tooth roots are gone. The longer you wait, the more jaw mass you lose, and the harder and more complicated cosmetic dental treatment becomes. It also becomes more expensive.
If you delay treatment, missing teeth will alter your cheek and lips and your appearance will wrinkle and age prematurely. Speaking and eating properly can also become strained and difficult. All of this adds up to bigger bucks when you do decide to get professional help.

Dental Bridges
Dental bridges are often preferred as alternatives to partial dentures. A dental bridge behaves more like natural teeth. It is fixed in the mouth and is stable and secure. Like dentures, a bridge replaces missing teeth with false teeth. However, these false teeth are stronger and are held in place by anchors placed over neighboring teeth.
We have to be careful not to remove too much surface mass from neighboring teeth because we do not want to make otherwise healthy teeth subject to tooth decay. Otherwise, bridges are a better and more resilient to partial dentures any day of the week.

Dental Implants
Dental implants are the best alternative to partial dentures. Not only are they the strongest, but they also prevent bone loss. Dental implants go into the jawbone like tooth roots and therefore are constantly stimulating the jaw with vibrations that keeps it vibrant and healthy.

Labels: alternatives to partials, cosmetic removable partial dentures, Dental Implants