Full Mouth Reconstruction Cambridge, OH
Tooth loss is a big deal. While losing one or two teeth is bad enough, losing an entire arch, or even a whole mouth of teeth is a serious issue. You rely on your teeth for biting and chewing, two functions which are not only important for eating but your digestion and your overall nutrition as well. Your teeth control airflow when you speak, making it possible for you to communicate effectively with those around you. Your teeth also provide you with a beautiful, confident smile. When you lose all of your teeth, all of these functions and more are affected. OHIOSmiles can help with full mouth restorations.
Effects of Missing Teeth
Losing your teeth has many effects on your life:• |
Your smile deteriorates. The teeth are a big component of your smile. Without them, it suffers. As a result, your confidence can plummet as well.
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It becomes difficult to eat most of your favorite foods. You may become limited to only eating soft foods.
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Your digestion is affected. Because foods are not properly broken down by the teeth, the body has a harder time accessing and absorbing essential nutrients. This can have a significant impact on your nutrition.
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Your speech suffers. You have difficulty talking, and others have a hard time understanding you.
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Your jawbone begins to change shape.
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Your face loses support, which leads to sagging skin, sunken facial features, and wrinkles. |
Traditionally, missing teeth have been replaced with full dentures. Full dentures are a removable prosthesis that consists of acrylic resin teeth that are set firmly into a gum colored acrylic base. Your dentures are designed from impressions of your mouth. The base is made to sit directly on your gums, relying on the tissue for support.
While dentures have come a long way in recent years, looking more natural and feeling less bulky, they still do have some major disadvantages. They require additional care. They can slip out of place. They also cannot stop bone loss in the jaw, which means that your jaw continues to change shape. Because your dentures do not change with your jaw, it becomes necessary to have them replaced every few years.
Replacement With Dental Implants
Dental implants are a more modern treatment for replacing missing teeth. They can be used to replace any number of missing teeth, including an entire mouth. This treatment uses small titanium posts that are surgically implanted into the jawbone. The bone fuses to the posts as you heal, stabilizing them in the jaw. The posts are then used to provide support for your replacement teeth.
A typical restoration for a single arch uses 6 to 8 posts implanted into the jawbone to support all of your new teeth. However, the posts rely on sufficient bone mass for success. Without it, implants can fail. This used to mean that a bone graft, another surgical procedure, would be needed. Today, however, a full arch of missing teeth without sufficient bone mass may be a candidate for the All-on-4® Treatment Concept. This treatment uses only 4 posts to support your teeth, and these posts are placed strategically within your jaw so that they can make maximum contact with the bone you do have left.
Replacing your missing teeth is essential for restoring their functions as well as your overall quality of life. Call OHIOSmiles at (740) 781-0540 today to schedule your consultation and learn what option is best for you. |