Replace Multiple Missing Teeth

At Sage Family Dentistry, we are dedicated to offering dental treatment options that deliver beautiful, healthy teeth that look, feel, and function like natural smiles. That’s why we so often recommend dental implant supported tooth replacement options. These restorations are the only available treatments that restore both the tooth roots and visible parts of the smile. In addition to implant-retained replacement teeth, we also offer traditional restoration options to restore a single tooth or a complete row of teeth. Whatever your situation, the first step is to call our team to schedule a tooth replacement consultation appointment in our Seattle dental office. 

Traditional Tooth Replacement Options

Traditional tooth replacement options are available, but they only replace those parts of teeth visible above the gum line. While we usually recommend patients consider a dental implant-retained prosthetic, we do offer traditional solutions, including:

  • Dental bridges – to replace one or a few consecutive teeth, we can fuse replacement teeth to dental crowns, one on each side. The crowns are then attached to surrounding teeth for support.
  • Partial dentures – following the loss of consecutive and nonconsecutive teeth, a partial denture may be recommended. These restorations are made of a gum-colored base material that supports the replacement teeth. The whole restoration is then held in place using clasps attached to surrounding teeth.
  • Full dentures – like partials, full dentures are made using a gum-colored base to support a full row of replacement teeth. Because there are no healthy teeth remaining to provide support for the denture, the base material is crafted to fit against the gum line. The tight fit between the denture and gums creates suction that stabilizes the prosthetic. Some people also use a small amount of denture adhesive to improve the stability of the denture.

Implant-Retained Bridge

Are you missing two or more teeth that appear in a row? An implant-retained bridge can work wonders in replicating the teeth seamlessly. Unlike traditional bridges, which require healthy teeth to be filed down to accommodate the dental crown and support the restoration, this version will attach to two implants on either side of the gap in your smile.

Implant-Retained Dentures

Dental implants can also be used to replace a significant number of missing teeth with an implant-retained partial or full denture. These personalized prosthetics are a big improvement over the traditional version, and they can be anchored over a small number of implants (instead of one per each missing tooth) in order to make them more cost-effective as well.

Do you want your restoration to feel just like natural teeth? A hybrid denture will be fixed permanently in place over the implants. Do you want to maintain the removable nature of a typical denture? Overdentures allow patients to enjoy the oral health benefits of implants while still being able to take out their prosthetic when convenient.

The Dental Implant Restoration Process

Dental implant restorations require patients to invest a longer time into the tooth replacement process. These implant-retained crowns, bridges, and dentures are placed in several phases. The first phase of treatment is preparation, and it may involve improving oral health, removing damaged teeth, and placing tissue grafts. Once the smile is prepared, we’ll surgically place one or more dental implants into the jawbone. Following placement, dental implants need to fuse with the bone and gum tissue before the final restoration is placed. This fusion process can take several months. Once the post is firmly implanted, you’ll return to our dental office where we’ll attach abutment posts and design your custom restoration. Finally, we’ll affix your dental crown, bridge, partial, or full denture.

Benefits of Implant-Retained Dental Prosthetics

While the cost and time commitment associated with dental implant supported tooth replacement is greater than that of traditional restorations, the benefits make implant-retained restorations worth the investment for many people. Some of the many benefits include:

  • Stability – an implant supported denture remains firmly in place as you speak, smile, and chew all your favorite foods.
  • Longevity – traditional restorations need to be replaced every five to ten years, but an implant supported prosthetic can last for thirty years or longer with proper care.
  • Natural – implant supported restorations look more like your natural smile, but they also feel and function naturally.

If you have any questions about our services, please contact us today at (206) 362-6677.