If you have missing teeth from an injury, decay, jaw abnormality, or medical condition, your dentist might refer you to a prosthodontist for treatment. A prosthodontist specializes in lost tooth restoration.

They may use various methods for replacing one or more lost teeth so you can be comfortable with your smile. Replacing your teeth could also improve your diet by enhancing your ability to eat and chew. Here are some prosthodontist treatments that can replace missing teeth.

When A Single Tooth Is Missing

If you have just one missing tooth, your prosthodontist might recommend an implant. The implant screws into your bone and is topped with a crown. This replaces the lost tooth and acts and looks completely natural.

If you're not a good candidate for an implant, the prosthodontist treatment might be a partial plate instead that contains a single tooth or a bridge that places an artificial tooth between two of your natural teeth.

When Multiple Teeth Are Missing

You could have an implant to replace each missing tooth, but your prosthodontist might suggest an implant-supported bridge instead. This works if you have three or four missing teeth in a row. Implants are put in for the outside teeth and the middle teeth are artificial teeth only without implants.

This saves money since it cuts down on the number of implants you need. The bridge is a single dental appliance that is secured to implants on the ends so it stays fixed in your mouth for chewing. Depending on whether you also have good teeth you want to save, you might need single implants or multiple bridges placed around your healthy teeth.

When All Of Your Teeth Are Missing

When all of your teeth are missing, or if they're bad and need to be pulled, the prosthodontist treatment will probably be dentures that replace all of your teeth. They may also recommend supporting the dentures with implants so you can avoid slipping, speaking problems, and difficulty biting and chewing.

You may only need a few implants to hold the upper and lower rows of teeth in place. The prosthodontist will probably use the fewest number of implants needed for secure support so the process is easier to endure and less expensive. However, you shouldn't need an implant for every tooth, and you may not need a bone graft, but that depends on the condition of your bone.

If you have missing teeth, a prosthodontist can help you replace them so you look your best and are no longer self-conscious about your appearance. If you need prosthodontist care, reach out to a local clinic. 

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