Before your teeth were missing, you didn’t know how good you had it. You had no issues chewing, no sensitivity, no speech problems, and you weren’t embarrassed about showing your smile. But now, the black holes in your smile are all you think about. They dictate your every move. You avoid social gatherings, photo opportunities, and miss out on all the joy you didn’t know could be taken away due to missing teeth.
This is a scenario we hear often. As disheartening as missing teeth can be, you don’t have to live with holes in your smile. We can replace your missing teeth and get you back to doing all the things you love and protect your other teeth from damage. When you replace your missing teeth at Smile Columbia Dentistry with Dr. Adam Hahn, you’ll be smiling for photos and nailing job interviews with your regained confidence. Not only that, but your sensitivity will go away, your speech will return to normal, you’ll chew with ease, and keep a healthy jawbone. Replace your missing teeth in Columbia, SC, today.
Dental Implants
Are you wondering what the best tooth-replacement option on the market is? It’s dental implants. Dental implants are titanium posts that we surgically place into your jawbone. It acts as the tooth’s root. Then, a custom crown sits on top of the implant and is the part of your tooth that you can see. Dental implants are the best tooth-replacement option because they replace the entire tooth, not just the crown. You might not know it, but your tooth roots have essential jobs that you can’t replace without an implant. Your roots hold your tooth in place, take the impact of biting and chewing (so your gums don’t get sore), and they stimulate your jawbone to prevent bone loss.
Dental implants can replace one tooth or multiple. It just depends on your needs. Since it is surgery, you’ll have to be fit for surgery to get a dental implant. The other requirements are that you have enough jawbone to hold the implant (if you don’t, we can’t do a bone graft) and that you have a missing tooth or a tooth that we can not save.
During your initial visit, we’ll thoroughly examine your mouth to identify the cause of your missing teeth. If there is gum disease or tooth decay present, we’ll treat that first before proceeding. On the day of your implant surgery, we’ll place the implant and a healing abutment (sometimes called a healing cap). Once your surgery site has healed (4 – 6 months), we’ll take impressions and place your crown.
You’ll enjoy a tooth restoration that looks, feels, and functions just like your natural teeth with dental implants. No one will be able to tell that you have an implant!
All-On-4 Dental Implants
All-On-4 dental implants are for people missing an entire arch of teeth. That means all the teeth on the top or all the teeth on the bottom. This innovative solution allows us to give you an entire arch of new teeth on only 4 dental implants. We’ll examine your jaw to determine the optimal spots with the most bone and place the implants there. The four implants will take all the biting and chewing force and prevent jawbone loss on the entirety of your jaw. (Do you feel that your facial structure is different since losing many teeth? That’s because you’ve lost jawbone.)
You’ll need to have adequate jawbone density to get all-on-4 dental implants. If you don’t have enough jawbone, we’ll have to do a bone graft before placing the implants. This makes the procedure take longer because you’ll need to heal after your graft.
With all-on-4, you’ll enjoy the same benefits as a single implant gives; optimal look, feel, and function.
Dentures and Partial Dentures
Dentures and partial dentures are another option to replace your missing teeth. You might have a negative connotation about dentures, but we use FOY Dentures®. They’re made of high-quality materials and use neuromuscular dentistry to achieve optimal appearance, comfort, and function.
Traditional dentures have limitations. They’re uncomfortable, unattractive, slip during talking or eating, make it hard to eat a balanced diet, and require denture adhesive. These problems are lessened with FOY Dentures®. Dentures are an excellent option for those who can’t undergo dental implant surgery or are looking for a lower-cost alternative. Because they’re based on neuromuscular principles, you’ll regain your facial structure through FOY Dentures®.
Dental Bridges
Dental bridges consist of two crowns and up to three restorations between them. They’ll replace missing teeth without the need for surgery and are permanent. You’ll need two healthy teeth that could benefit from a crown to get a dental bridge.
Another option is to have the crowns attached to dental implants. Either way, a dental bridge brings back the beauty and function of your mouth and teeth. They’re custom and match the color of your existing teeth.
What Option is Best for Me?
Consult with your restorative dentist in Columbus, SC, to determine which tooth replacement option is best for you. Call (803) 781-9090 or make an appointment online with Dr. Hahn today.
