Replacement Of Missing Teeth in Mississauga

(Dentures/Bridges/Implants)

What Are Dentures?

If you are missing teeth and are considering tooth replacement options, one of the options you have available to you are dentures. Dentures are considered a removable tooth replacement option and they are not permanent within your mouth. Patients have a choice of two different types of dentures that are available including partial and complete.

The type of dentures you need will depend on your situation and how many teeth you are missing or need to have extracted. When a patient is missing all of their teeth or needs to have all teeth extracted, complete dentures are used. When a patient still has some of his or her natural teeth, partial dentures are used.

Partial Dentures: In Depth

If you still have some of your natural teeth, you may be able to utilize partial dentures to replace the missing teeth. A partial denture is removable from your mouth and will have a pink, gum-coloured base that sits on your gum line where your teeth are missing. Typically, the denture has some sort of framework, typically metal, that will surround natural teeth on each side to anchor it in place.

Partial dentures are similar to bridges, but differ because a bridge is cemented into place and becomes permanent, whereas a partial denture is never cemented in place.

Complete Dentures: In Depth

Complete dentures are used when you have no natural teeth remaining in your mouth. Sometimes, patients need to have all of their teeth extracted due to tooth decay or gum disease and this leaves them without any teeth. Dentures are able to replace your natural teeth and allow you to smile confidently again.

When it comes to complete dentures, there are immediate and conventional. Conventional dentures are made to fit your mouth once your gums have completely healed, which can take up to 2 weeks after the extractions. Once your gums are healed, an impression is taken and the dentures are made.

Immediate dentures are made prior to the date of your extraction and are placed in your mouth once your teeth have been removed. It is important to keep in mind that your jaw bone and gums will shrink throughout the healing period, which means that your dentures will have to be refitted and replaced. Both conventional and immediate dentures can be removed when you want to take them out, but you must maintain them by brushing, and caring for them.

What is a bridge?

When a tooth falls out, the remaining natural teeth tend to drift in order to fill the vacant space. Drifting teeth can cause jaw pain and headaches, as well as make teeth more susceptible to decay. A fixed bridge is suggested for the prevention of the problems associated with drifting teeth. This bridge can restore a smile, as well as chewing ability.
If you are missing one or more teeth, a dental bridge might be an option for you.
A dental bridge may be recommended when the teeth on either side of the missing tooth have large fillings on them or if they are already crowned.

Why dental bridges?

Bridges help:

Restore a patient’s smile
Allow for better chewing
Prevent the shifting of your other teeth into the area of the missing tooth

Treatment Steps

Similar to the procedure of a single crown. The process of a dental bridge treatment involves 3 steps over the course of 2 appointments:

Appointment 1: Preparation

The two teeth on either side of the missing tooth are prepared for a crown
An impression is then taken to capture the prepared teeth as well as the missing space. This impression is then sent to the lab so that they can fabricate your final bridge. This lab fabrication process can take 1-2 weeks.
You will leave this appointment with a temporary bridge to protect your teeth until the final bridge can be cemented

Appointment 2: Insertion of final bridge

1-2 weeks later you will re-visit the clinic for your second appointment. During this appointment we will try in your final bridge and confirm that the shade selected and the fit is accurate. The bridge is then cemented.

Implant Process

The dental implant process has three main stages and you will go through each one when you undergo the procedure.

Step 1 – The first step involves the surgical aspect of the procedure where the implant itself is placed into your jaw bone. The implants can be placed in either your top jaw, bottom jaw, or both. It usually takes at least 6 months for the implant to properly integrate into your bone.

Step 2 – The second step of the process involves placing the abutment on top of the titanium post. The post must be fully healed in the gum before the abutment is set. Once you are ready for the abutment, it is attached to the post via a screw. This is the piece that is responsible for connecting the crown and implant to each other.
Step 3 – Now it is the third step and this step is the implant restoration process. During this time, a crown is made to go over the abutment. The crown is either made from all porcelain, metal, or porcelain fused to metal. The crown will then be cemented to the abutment and will remain in place permanently.

Am I A Candidate For Dental Implants?

Patients who fit the bill for dental implants will be in good health, have no underlying dental problems, have a single missing tooth, multiple missing teeth, or all of their teeth missing, and they will have enough jaw bone to support the procedure. Often, patients will need to undergo other treatment procedures prior to receiving the dental implants such as having a cavity filled, gum disease treated, and so on.

If you do not have enough jaw bone to support the implant, you may need to undergo a procedure called bone grafting. This procedure helps to promote bone growth within your jaw. Once the area is healed and bone has reproduced, the implants can then be placed.

Schedule Your Consultation

Please call us today to schedule your consultation with one of our dentists or fill up the contact form and we will call you back.