When was the last time you smiled confidently or enjoyed a meal without laborious or uncomfortable chewing? If it seems like ages, is that due to the loss of one or several of your teeth? As an adult, tooth loss rarely elicits the kind of joy kids experience when the Tooth Fairy pays them a visit, after the loss of a tooth. Instead, many adults feel frustrated, embarrassed, or even worried how their smile will function moving forward. Fortunately, modern restorative dentistry makes it possible to rebound from tooth loss with great confidence and comfort.

Completing Your Smile Is Important

One important consideration is that completing a smile after the loss of a tooth serves more than just the obvious esthetic functions. Prosthetic dentistry also helps to preserve teeth’s alignment, by preventing remaining teeth from trying to shift out of place, in order to fill the gap that was created by the loss. This is true when teeth have fallen out or been extracted.

While dentures can serve this function, many patients prefer the added benefits that come with either dental bridges or dental implants, as forms of smile restoration.

Enjoy Added Confidence with a Dental Bridge or Implant

Bridges use crowns affixed to remaining teeth to stabilize a replacement teeth, while dental implants are anchored by a titanium post that is meant to mimic the role of a healthy tooth’s root. Both offered added security, compared to unsupported dentures, and cosmetic benefits, as well.

Determining which is right for you is best done by scheduling a consultation with your restorative dentist, who can review all your prosthetic options with you.