• Posted on: Mar 30 2019

Grand Rapids, MI

If you have a missing tooth, you have options to replace it and restore your smile in Grand Rapids. Partial dentures and bridgework are well-known choices for replacing teeth. However, dental implants have become more popular in recent years because of their many advantages. Today, implant dentists in Grand Rapids at A Life of Smiles would like to highlight these benefits in hopes of helping you decide which procedure is right for replacing your missing tooth.

First, let’s take a look at how partial dentures and bridgework can close those gaps in your smile.

Partial dentures are made from impressions of your teeth. Fabricated from acrylic material, usually with metal framework, partial dentures fit snug in the mouth as the artificial teeth attached to the unit fill in the gaps in your smile. A partial denture can be added to if you end up getting another tooth extracted later on down the road. However, patients sometimes complain about their partial denture, that it feels strange in the mouth, traps food easily, and has to be taken out at night to sleep.

Another option for replacing a missing tooth is a dental bridge or bridgework. This is a single unit, handcrafted tooth replacement option that is permanently bonded into the mouth. Costing more than a partial denture, bridgework doesn’t have to be removed, although you still need to brush and floss it along with your natural teeth. A bridge looks like several dental crowns fused together, with the appearance of separate teeth. Downsides to bridgework are that it does not provide stimulation the jawbone, and therefore, it eventually will need to be remade. Also, to attach the bridge, the two adjacent teeth have to be filed down to make room for the crown portion of the bridge to be secured.

Let’s talk dental implants. Although implants are generally more expensive than the other two options we mentioned, we believe the investment is worth it. A dental implant involves having a titanium post inserted into your jawbone, a process that isn’t painful like it may sound! Then, after a healing period of about six months is over, you come back to our office to have a permanent dental crown attached to the implant post. Then, you are well on your way to smiling confidently again!

Some advantages to dental implants are that it is designed to last a lifetime with proper care and maintenance such as oral hygiene and dental checkups that include dental cleanings. Also, dental implants are permanent, and never have to be taken out of the mouth for cleaning – just brush, and floss as usual. Dental implants also are comfortable, and completely natural looking. Since the implant stimulates the jawbone, you won’t have to worry about your jawbone diminishing over time as a result of a missing tooth.

As you can see, dental implants are significantly better, in most cases, than other tooth replacement options. Not everyone is a candidate for a dental implant. If you would like to learn more or to see if you are a candidate for a dental implant in Grand Rapids, please contact A Life of Smiles by calling (616) 458-0631 to schedule a consultation.

We welcome patients of Big Rapids, Grand Rapids, and Holland.

Posted in: Dental Implants