Understanding Dental Pain and Bacterial Infections

Posted on: 16 June 2015

Experts estimate that more than 35 million people in the United States today are missing all their teeth. If your natural teeth are missing, there are some ways you can replace these teeth in order to restore functionality to your mouth once again.

Here are three options you might want to consider when it comes to a full mouth restoration in the future.

1. Traditional Dentures

While you might be reluctant to invest in a full set of dentures, modern technology has allowed dentures to fit more comfortably than ever before. Wearing dentures can feel awkward at first, but the muscles in your tongue and cheeks will eventually learn to keep your dentures in place.

In addition to restoring functionality, dentures have the ability to reverse the sunken look that often accompanies tooth loss. Dentures will make you appear younger, and they are a great option when it comes to a full mouth restoration.

2. Implants

If you are looking for a more permanent fix than traditional dentures can provide, you might want to consider investing in implants. When replacing a missing tooth with an implant, your dentist will anchor a post to your jawbone.

A crown can then be placed on the post, allowing you to use a dental implant in much the same way you would your natural tooth. Dental implants don't have to be removed for cleaning, but they can be quite costly. The average cost of a full mouth restoration using dental implants can range from $10,000 to $20,000.

3. Hybrid Dentures

When you want the affordability of traditional dentures and the permanency of implants when it comes to a full mouth restoration, your best option is a set of hybrid dentures. These dental prostheses require your dentist to place 4 or more implant posts into your jawbone. Instead of anchoring a single crown to each implanted post, a full denture is anchored to the posts instead.

Hybrid dentures are a great option for individuals who don't have the bone density to be a candidate for individual implants. By choosing hybrid dentures, you get the restorative benefits of traditional dentures while enjoying the permanency that individual implants provide.

Replacing missing teeth is important when it comes to maintaining proper chewing and speech patterns. Knowing the differences between traditional dentures, individual dental implants, and hybrid dentures will allow you to choose the option best suited to meet your restorative needs in the future. For more information, contact a business such as Wigwam Dental Care.