Tooth loss affects millions of American adults. One missing tooth can disrupt the aesthetics, function, and health of your smile. But some dental patients suffer from the loss of an entire arch of teeth on the upper or lower jaw or both.
Patients can see severe hindrances in their everyday life with this kind of tooth loss. But a dentist can help them restore their smiles with tooth replacement treatments like implant dentistry. With these fixtures, you can rebuild your smile’s appearance, restore its capabilities, and prevent further oral health problems.
You might worry about what this ambitious dental work will entail. But an implant expert can help you find the best treatment for your needs when you schedule a dental consultation. You can also read on to learn details about treatments your periodontist can provide to replace a full arch of missing teeth.
What Causes the Loss of an Entire Arch of Teeth?
Tooth loss can occur for a variety of reasons. You might suffer an injury to the face that generates enough trauma for many teeth to fall out of their sockets. You may also contract a serious infection in your teeth or gums that spreads extensively enough to make you lose an entire arch of teeth.
Poor oral habits can also lead to enough damage to the teeth to make them fall out or require removal. For instance, lapsed oral hygiene, using tobacco, and grinding your teeth could all make your smile vulnerable to tooth decay. Advanced tooth decay happens when natural oral bacteria penetrate weak spots in the enamel, the outer layer of the teeth.
The early stages of tooth decay are cavities. But as the dental damage progresses, the decay can reach the tooth’s interior where a dental filling cannot restore the tooth’s health. In this case, a dentist may need to extract teeth to prevent further harm to your smile. This will leave you in need of replacing these lost teeth.
How Will My Dentist Replace a Full Arch of Teeth?
Removable tooth replacement solutions like dentures can be unreliable. They might slip out of place at an inopportune moment. And they require replacement fixtures every five years or so as they wear down over time.
For long-lasting dental restoration in the wake of tooth loss, a dentist will recommend dental implants. You may benefit from an All-on-Four implant, which uses four implanted anchors in the jaw to sustain a denture prosthetic that replaces the full arch of teeth.
However, your dentist might also suggest implant-supported dentures. This offers a more affordable and less invasive way to restore your smile after losing an entire arch of teeth.
A dentist will evaluate the health of your jawbone and gums to ensure you can support a dental implant. If too much tissue or bone deteriorated since losing your teeth, you may need a graft to build stability in the mouth before you can receive an implant. Consult with a periodontist to determine the details of your unique tooth replacement needs and goals.