A sincere smile can brighten up a room. Unfortunately, not everyone feels confident in their smile, and many people even avoid flashing it if they can help it.

A nice smile is more than just a great self-esteem booster – it’s an indicator of proper oral health, which is extremely important.

Missing teeth not only affect your confidence, but put you at risk of infections and other health problems. There are several reasons why someone may be missing teeth, including accidents, tooth decay and gum disease.

Luckily, there are also several solutions. A few popular ones include dentures, dental bridges and dental implants – but, how do you choose between the three? We teamed up with Dr. Barros at Thompson Valley Dental in Kamloops to explain the difference between these three techniques to help you make your decision.

Dentures

Dentures are removable false teeth, typically used to replace several teeth at once. Full dentures replace a whole row of teeth, and partial dentures may replace just some of the teeth.

While dentures have advanced in both comfort and appearance quite dramatically over the years, they still will not quite feel like your natural teeth. They usually take some time to get used to, and simple tasks like eating and speaking may be a bit challenging at first. There is also a risk that they could accidentally fall out, and they may need to be replaced eventually due to wear.

That being said, dentures are still a great option for some people, especially those who aren’t able to receive implants due to a weak jaw or gums, or who are looking for a more affordable option.

Dental bridges

As you may have guessed, a dental bridge fills in a gap between two teeth by creating a bridge between them. They can be used to replace one or a few teeth, and are fixed structures.

Dental bridges rely on the two teeth surrounding the gap. These two teeth are worn down and crowns are placed over them, with the false teeth in between.

Dental bridges typically look and feel more like natural teeth than dentures do. While they are quite sturdy, they are still susceptible to decay over time, and also require some additional care to keep clean.

Dental bridges may be a great option for someone who only needs to replace one or two teeth, but isn’t able to get dental implants.

Dental implants

Dental implants are made up of a few components including a post and a crown. The post is a screw-like piece that is implanted into the jaw bone, similar to a tooth’s root, and the crown is then placed on top.

Dental implants look and feel like real teeth, and usually do not require replacing. Unlike dental bridges, implants do not affect the surrounding teeth, and also help prevent bone loss in the jaw as they fill in the gap left by the old tooth.

Many dentists recommend dental implants as a solution to missing teeth as they have a record of reliable treatments. They are the most likely to replace missing teeth with a long-term successful outcome than other methods.

If you’re looking for the right solution for your missing teeth, including dental implants, the team at Thompson Valley Dental would be happy to help. Contact them today for more information and to book your appointment.

Thompson Valley Dental is a general practice that provides cosmetic and restorative dental services in Kamloops. The clinic is dedicated to helping children and adults improve their smiles by giving efficient and knowledgeable care.

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