This page explains the different ways that we can restore your smile by replacing missing teeth with Dental Implants Brighton. Please read on for information about bridges, implants, acrylic and gold dentures.

This page explains the different ways that we can restore your smile by replacing missing teeth. Please read on for information about bridges, implants, acrylic and gold dentures.

Replacing missing teeth can improve appearance and dental health

Embarrassed by your smile? Ashamed of your teeth?

Missing teeth can be a misery, you will probably find that eating will be a challenge with gaps, or your ill-fitting dentures can move about, and that your confidence and smile can be effected.

When teeth are missing, it can effect the way the rest of your teeth bite together. The remaining teeth may tilt and drift out of position into the gaps, and food can be trapped in the spaces. This can increase your risk of tooth decay and gum disease.

When many teeth are missing, the muscles of the face can become saggy, making it difficult to speak and chew.

Don't worry there are many ways to restore your full compliment of teeth, and the replacements can be made to match the colour and shape of your natural teeth.

We even offer interest free credit and low cost finance payment options for treatment costing over £650.

For a guide to prices click here.

There are a number of options to replace teeth:

• Do nothing - accept the space and leave it empty.
• Have denture (false teeth) fitted. These are removable plastic or metal frameworks carrying artificial teeth.
• Bridges can replace missing teeth. These are artificial teeth fixed onto adjacent natural teeth.
• Implants, these are made of a biocompatible metal, and replace the tooth root. They are used to support restorations that resemble a tooth or group of teeth. They can also be used to gain greater stability with full dentures.

Bridges

There are 3 main types of bridges, with these techniques, missing teeth can be permanently replaced in 2 weeks:

Fixed-fixed bridges

these type are most commonly used, and this technique allows the clinician to provide a extremely strong tooth replacement. These bridges are made up of a false tooth/teeth, with crowns or caps attached either side to fit over the adjacent supporting teeth.

See below for an example of how a fixed-fixed bridge can restore a missing tooth...

Cantilever bridges

These are the same idea as the fixed-fixed bridge except are only supported by one adjacent tooth, therefore they are only fixed on one side of the false tooth. Not suitable for all cases, as are not as strongly supported and may be prone to failure if cases not chosen carefully.

Maryland or Bonded bridges

As the term suggests these adhere only by a bond to the teeth, they consist of a false tooth with a metal wing either side, these wings are bonded to the back of the adjacent teeth, minimal preparation is needed to fix these bridges. They are not commonly used as may sometimes come loose and need recementing from time to time, plus they can't really be used to replace missing back teeth.

Dental implants

Implants are more costly and involve some surgery, but will provide you with a permanent solution, the implant itself will be in place for the rest of you life, the only part that will need replacing will be the final restoration, the crown, bridge, denture.

A dental implant is placed into the jaw bone, replacing the root of the missing tooth and soon integrates with the bone. The next stage is to then add an abutment, this is a piece that sits above the gum and is screwed into the implant allowing a restoration to be fitted.

A variety of restorations can be achieved with dental implants such as:

Crown implant restorations

This type of restoration will be used if just one tooth is to be replaced, a specialist crown will be made that fits precisely to the implant abutment.

Bridge implant restorations

If an number of teeth are to be replaced then Implants can be strategically placed in the jaw, this means that not every tooth being replaced needs a corresponding new implant, these can later be restored with bridges across the gaps.

Implant retained dentures

If you have an ill-fitting or loose full or partial denture, then implants can be placed into the jaw bone, then abutments of special 'press studs' or 'bars' can be attached to the implants. A new denture will then be made to locate precisely over these abutments. This technique is fantastic for achieving a rigid fit with full dentures.

Dentures

Dentures are the perfect solution when replacing missing teeth if you require minimal intervention with treatment. The thing to bear in mind is that dentures have to be removable to allow thorough cleaning.

We produce 2 types of dentures at the Village Dental Centre:

Gold dentures

Nigel has been making these type of dentures with Clive, who is a skilled local technician, for the last 20 years. They are a real precision fit.

Clive is the only technician in the area making these types of dentures, and he only works with a few dentists.

This technique is mainly used for partial dentures (when the patient has some of their own teeth remaining). The dentures are made up of a minimal gold framework which clips around your remaining teeth, and with acrylic natural looking teeth.

Gold is such an excellent material to be used in this situation because it is kind to the teeth, and not scratchy when being taken in and out like the old chrome cobalt metal dentures.

There are usually 4 stages and therefore 4 different visits to produce these dentures. They can typically be produced in 4-5 weeks.

The picture below shows a recently made gold denture fitted onto a stone model...

Acrylic dentures

We make acrylic dentures with a local technician, they are very natural looking.

Acrylic dentures can be for full arch replacement or partial.

Clasps can be added for better retention of the partial dentures, and metal reinforcement can be added within the structure of the denture if you have a strong bite and are prone to breaking them. There are also improved types of acrylic that can be used to gain extra strength.