If you have lost one or more teeth, life becomes not just a lot less pleasant, but also a lot harder. Missing teeth make it harder to chew, which can limit your food choices and also increase your risk of digestive problems. But there are other aspects of missing teeth that people don’t realize. Your teeth play a vital role in helping to stabilize your core, and when some are missing, you may notice that your speed and balance are affected. And if you have visible gaps in your smile, you’ll notice that people treat you differently. They make assumptions about you that are neither accurate nor complimentary. Worst of all, once one tooth is lost, it puts your other teeth at risk.

Fortunately, there are many options available to make your smile whole again so you can continue to enjoy life on your terms. To learn which option is best for you, please call (314) 678-7876 (Downtown St. Louis) or (314) 678-7876 (Clayton) or email us today for an appointment with St. Louis cosmetic dentist Dr. Chris Hill at our office in downtown or Clayton.

Missing Tooth Replacement Options

A young gentelman who no longer has missing teeth

We currently offer many options for replacing your missing teeth. These are:

Dental implants are usually considered the best tooth replacement option. Anchored in the jaw bone, dental implants can look and function just like natural teeth. They never have to come out and allow you to eat all the foods you enjoy.

Dental bridges are an older tooth replacement option, but they’re still good. Most of the time, when we talk about bridges, they’re supported by your natural teeth. However, dental implants can support a dental bridge.

Implant dentures are dentures that are attached to dental implants. Implant dentures can be supported by implants, which lets them function like natural teeth. Other times, implants are used for retention: they hold the denture in, but the denture still functions largely like a traditional denture.

FOY ® Dentures are a pioneering denture technology that uses neuromuscular dentistry to improve the fit and function of dentures. They have the ability to rejuvenate your facial appearance by better supporting your facial structures.

Partial dentures are designed to replace a few teeth. They are made up of fake teeth attached to support structures that fit on the floor or roof of your mouth. They are also supported by wires, clasps, or other structures that encircle your natural teeth.

Traditional dentures are designed to replace all the teeth in an arch. They are false teeth set into a base. They are held in by suction and supported by your gums. They can be attractive, but fit and function are not as good as other options.

Why Replace Missing Teeth

If you are missing one or more teeth, there are many reasons to replace your missing teeth, including:

  • Restore the appearance of your smile
  • Restore the function of your bite
  • Protect remaining teeth
  • Support facial structures
Different replacement options do better or worse at these different functions.

Restore the Appearance of Your Smile

Most tooth replacement options do a good job at this. Partial dentures are probably the worst at this because they have visible support structures and may not stay in place properly. Dental implants are good at this, but many dentures can do very well, especially FOY ® Dentures, which use some of the most attractive materials available for tooth restorations.

Restore the Function of Your Bite

Dentures generally are poor at this–biting with dentures is limited. The exception is FOY ® Dentures, which are designed to reproduce your optimal bite, so they may function even better than your natural teeth before they were lost. Dental implants and implant dentures can also be very good at this, and the best solution is when FOY ® Dentures are combined with dental implants.

Protect Remaining Teeth

Partial dentures are probably the worst at preserving your remaining teeth. They can wear down natural teeth and trap food with their clasps. Dental bridges can help protect most of your teeth, but if they’re being supported by natural teeth, those teeth are at risk because of the bridge.

Dental implants are the best at protecting your natural teeth. They support themselves and can help brace natural teeth.

Support Facial Structures

Your teeth and the jawbone that supports them are the underlying structure of your lower face. As teeth get worn and lost, and the jawbone is removed by the body, you might notice your face collapsing inward, with wrinkles developing around the mouth, jowls appearing, and a turkey neck developing. FOY ® Dentures are the best at providing support in this situation.

Which Tooth Replacement Is Best for You?

Have you lost one or more teeth but are unsure which tooth replacement option is best for you? Please call (314) 678-7876 (Downtown St. Louis) or (314) 678-7876 (Clayton) today for an appointment with restorative dentist Chris Hill at our downtown or Clayton office.